Derrick White is going to look a little bit different for the Celtics next season – in multiple ways.
As he prepares for his third season in Boston, White has a new role accompanied by a new haircut. The point guard chopped all his hair off, first seen in a highlight video that went viral from a pro-am game in Denver last week and then shown off on television on Tuesday as he made an appearance on ESPN’s “NBA Today,” where he took off a hat to reveal his bald head.
“Everybody likes it,” White told ESPN’s Malika Andrews. “Everybody is really complementary, so it’s just different but I’m liking it and it’s cool.”
White will hope there will be a similar reception to his new role on the court with the Celtics this season.
After the Celtics made the stunning trade of Marcus Smart in June, president of basketball operations Brad Stevens confirmed last week that White will be Boston’s starting point guard this season. The Smart trade – which brought in Kristaps Porzingis – served as a strong vote of confidence in White, who emerged as one of the Celtics’ best and most reliable players on both ends of the court last season. White started 70 games last season and played in all 82, but played more of an off-ball role alongside Smart. He’s excited for a new opportunity this year.
“Obviously with Smart leaving, there’s that point guard role that I only played a little bit last year. I’m looking forward to it,” White said Tuesday on ESPN. “I’ll definitely have the ball in my hands, more of a playmaker role and I’m looking forward to grow with the team and just get us in the right position each and every time, so I’m looking forward to the season to start and working with Joe (Mazzulla) and the rest of the guys.”
Even without Smart, White said he doesn’t think there will be a significant change for him.
“I don’t think it will be a big adjustment. I’m just going to have the ball in my hands more, which I’ve done pretty much most of my career, so just getting back to that and just getting the guys in the right spot,” White said. “Obviously with (Jayson Tatum), (Jaylen Brown), Porzingis now, like I have a lot of talented guys around me that makes my job pretty easy.”
White is clearly a big part of the Celtics’ plans this season. Do they view him as a long-term fixture?
White is entering the third year of the four-year, $73 million extension he signed with the Spurs in 2020, and is eligible for an extension in September, when he and the Celtics can strike a deal during a short window before the regular season begins that could keep him in Boston for an additional three years. White is certainly open to the idea.
“I love being here in Boston. It would be cool to get an extension,” White said when asked if he’d like to get a deal done before the season starts. “We’ll see what happens during that window, but I’ve loved my time in Boston so far and my focus right now is just on the season.”
A season he hopes that ends in glory after coming close in his first two years in Boston.
“I mean, Boston’s a title town. That’s what they expect from us, that’s what they want from us each and every year,” White said. “Obviously we’ve been right there the last couple years and it’s just little things each and every year that gotta do a better job of in the playoffs and it starts from Day 1. We just gotta continue to put together good days and I like our chances next year.”
Champagnie waived
The Celtics waived Justin Champagnie on Tuesday, according to multiple reports. The guard/forward’s non-guaranteed deal would have been partially guaranteed at $50,000 if he had not been waived by Tuesday.
The 22-year-old Champagnie was picked up by the Celtics in April of last season as a developmental player and he barely saw the floor, playing in two regular season games and four playoff games in garbage time. He averaged 13.0 points and 8.3 rebounds in four Summer League games. The Celtics now have two open roster spots.
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Derrick White talks new role with Celtics, potential contract extension: ‘I love it here’ - Boston Herald
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