It’s been a big summer of change for the Boston Celtics and head coach Joe Mazzulla. The team said goodbye to forward Grant Williams while welcoming in former All-Star Kristaps Porzingis. Perhaps most notably, the Celtics traded away veteran point guard Marcus Smart, ushering in new questions about Boston’s rotation and starting lineup.
Smart played nine seasons with the Celtics, often defying traditional positional norms. More recently, however, he served as the team’s defacto point guard and indeed led the club in assists last year, even with the club’s glut of guard depth. During a brief conversation with reporters after Jaylen Brown’s supermax contract extension signing event, coach Mazzulla spoke about what he expects for the Celtics next season. Specifically, he believes Derrick White will indeed succeed Smart.
“Derrick will be our starting point guard.” Mazzulla said.
The Celtics star made use of signing his new contract to help shed light on efforts to address systemic racism in the city and hopes to found a new Black Wall Street in Boston, a sign of the depth … https://t.co/VIAwH6oESG
— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) July 27, 2023
White appeared in all 82 games with the Celtics last season, logging 70 starts alongside Smart. White was a reliable supplemental scoring threat and playmaker, averaging 12.4 points and 3.9 assists per game.
Importantly, he also provided key defense for Boston and would earn All-Defensive Second Team honors.
At first, Mazzulla was coy with reporters, telling them July is much too soon to be making roster decisions. Later, he did clarify that White is expected to be the team’s starting point guard.
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— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) July 26, 2023
Mazzulla also said Malcolm Brogdon, who suffered an injured tendon in his right arm during the postseason, is progressing well in his rehab.
White, 29, has been an important contributor for Boston since coming to the team by way of a trade from the San Antonio Spurs last February. This is an opportunity for the Colorado native to continue to grow his role with the team as the Celtics look ahead to another season of title contention.
Jaylen Brown signed his supermax contract extension with the Boston Celtics surrounded by his STEAM students at MIT and alongside Olympian John Carlos. https://t.co/zrRzVwlLNq
— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) July 26, 2023
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