Derrick White Opens Up on Celtics’ Offseason Shake-Up

A summer season of change has left the Boston Celtics trying very totally different heading into the brand new season and Derrick White is anxious.

Following a playoff exit by the hands of the New York Knicks and Jayson Tatum’s torn Achilles, the entrance workplace was pressured to navigate the second tax apron with some main roster choices.

Kristaps Porzingis was traded to the Atlanta Hawks, Jrue Vacation landed in Portland, Luke Kornet signed with San Antonio, and Al Horford stays unsigned. That left solely Jaylen Brown and Derrick White because the remaining starters from the workforce that gained the 2023–24 championship.

White admitted the roster turnover hit exhausting.

“Yeah, I imply, that’s the robust half in regards to the enterprise,” White mentioned, by way of Sports activities Illustrated. “However it’s a enterprise on the finish of the day. Jrue, KP, Luke [Kornet], all of them, it was undoubtedly robust to see them go away. You would like we might play with them eternally, however that is type of the way in which it’s. I all the time want them one of the best. There will likely be lots of enjoyable once we see them once more. And I’m simply excited to play with the folks we do have.”

White is coming off his greatest season but, averaging a career-high 16.4 factors per recreation.

With Tatum sidelined and two starters gone, the 30-year-old guard is aware of his position will develop.

“I’m excited,” White mentioned. “It’s clearly a unique yr than final yr, however I believe now we have the identical expectations and requirements. So I’ve been attacking this offseason as, ‘I gotta get higher.’ It’s been actually enjoyable attempting to get within the fitness center and enhance on issues that I must work on. Once we get again to Boston, it’ll be lots of enjoyable.”

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