Celtics player spotlight: How Derrick White can maximize his role in Boston

The Boston Celtics buying Derrick White finally 12 months’s commerce deadline helped to gasoline their second-half surge. The 28-year-old will look so as to add an analogous spark in his first full season with Boston.

White might be a part of a suddenly-loaded Celtics backcourt that features Marcus Good, Payton Pritchard, and the newly-acquired Malcolm Brogdon. He may see a slight dip in taking part in time because of this, however White nonetheless might be leaned on to deliver a defensive increase off the bench. Enchancment within the taking pictures division can be icing on the cake.

Offseason spotlights: Jayson Tatum | Al Horford | Jaylen Brown | Robert Williams | Marcus Good | Malcolm Brogdon

This is a take a look at White’s previous accomplishments and the way the previous San Antonio Spurs guard can maximize his position with the Celtics in 2022-23.

White’s 2021-22 stats

• Common season: 13.2 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 4.9 apg, 1.0 spg, 42.1 % FG, 31.2 % 3PT (49 video games with SAS, 26 with BOS)
• Postseason: 8.5 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 2.7 apg, 0.9 spg, 36.4 % FG, 31.3 % 3PT

White’s contract state of affairs

White is ready to make about $16.4 million in 2022-23 after signing a four-year, $70 million contract extension with the San Antonio Spurs in Dec. 2020. He’s underneath contract with Boston by means of the 2024-25 season.

What position will White play on the 2022-23 Celtics?

Until White is dealt earlier than the season (maybe in a bundle for Kevin Durant?) he as soon as once more might be a key contributor off the bench.

This time, nevertheless, newly-acquired guard Malcolm Brogdon will steal a few of White’s minutes. Brogdon will function the sixth man whereas Marcus Good begins at level guard, at the least to start the 2022-23 marketing campaign.

Celtics Discuss: Why buying and selling Jaylen Brown for Kevin Durant isn’t any slam dunk | Pay attention & Subscribe | Watch on YouTube

Even when his taking part in time takes successful, White will nonetheless play a major position as a defender. His versatility on the defensive finish match completely with the Celtics’ id final season and was a significant motive they sailed to the No. 2 seed within the East and made a run at Banner 18.

White’s season might be a hit if …

… He carves out a constant position off the bench.

The Celtics abruptly are loaded with guard depth following the acquisition of Brogdon. Good and Brogdon are the highest two guards within the pecking order, then it is White and Payton Pritchard. White’s minutes virtually definitely will take successful because of this.

Nonetheless, as we noticed final season, White’s defensive versatility permits him to be on the ground alongside Good and we must always see him on the ground with Brogdon pretty usually. If something, the addition of Brogdon takes the stress off White to carry out offensively and permits him to deal with his strengths.

Greatest impediment to White’s success

Taking pictures struggles.

We all know what White brings to the desk defensively. It is the explanation the Celtics had been fantastic with giving up a greater shooter — Josh Richardson — as a part of a bundle to amass White finally 12 months’s commerce deadline. Nonetheless, there is no doubt Boston needs to see extra offensive consistency from White subsequent season.

White shot 40.9 % from the ground and 30.6 % from 3 in his 26 regular-season video games with the C’s. He posted a 36.4 FG% and 31.3 3P% within the playoffs. The hope is there is a noticeable enchancment in his first full season in Boston.

Projected stats and prediction for White’s 2022-23 season

Projected stats: 10.3 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 3.1 apg, 0.8 spg, 41.3 % FG, 31 % 3PT

As cliche as it could sound, White’s influence is felt past the field rating. His protection is a noticeable difference-maker and outweighs his shortcomings on the offensive facet. That mentioned, the Celtics would like to see White take a step ahead as a shooter. That was a obvious weak spot final season and if he can enhance these taking pictures percentages only a tad, it is going to go a great distance towards bringing a activate a C’s bench that lacked a scoring punch within the 2022 NBA playoffs.