Celtics win NBA championship: Derrick White's future, Jayson Tatum supermax headline important offseason for Boston
The Celtics have secured Banner 18.
For the first time since 2008, Boston has lifted the Larry O'Brien trophy after defeating the Mavericks in five games in the 2024 NBA Finals.
Battle-tested with years of Eastern Conference Finals shortcomings, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown have prevailed to lead their team to an elusive championship.
The Celtics capped off a dominant 64-18 regular season with a 16-3 playoff record, making for one of the most dominant runs in NBA history. Boston's 18 championships are the most ever. With the majority of this team's core under contract long-term, the Celtics aren't going anywhere any time soon.
Take a look at where the reigning champs stand as they look to defend their title moving forward.
MORE: Key stats, highlights from Celtics-Mavericks Game 5 meeting in the 2024 NBA Finals
Key storylines: Derrick White's extension, Jayson Tatum's supermax
Tatum's supermax extension and White's contract negotiations headline the front office's list of priorities this offseason. The first of those two should be a simple procedure.
Tatum is eligible for a five-year supermax contract that is projected to be worth $314.8 million. The Celtics will undoubtedly extend that offer with zero hesitation.
Tatum has solidified his place as one of the best players in the league. He has been an All-Star in each of the last five seasons, earning three consecutive All-NBA First Team honors. Boston has made the playoffs all seven years he has been in the NBA, reaching three Eastern Conference Finals and two NBA Finals.
On top of his consistent productivity, Tatum has been one of the most available superstars. He has never missed a playoff game and has only missed 41 of 554 regular season games. He is worth every penny of a 300-million-dollar contract.
Assuming Tatum signs his supermax, White is the last of Boston's core six players to negotiate a long-term deal.
Derrick White Boston Celtics
(NBA Entertainment)
White's case isn't as clear as Tatum's. The 29-year-old has become one of the most improved players in the NBA since Boston acquired him from San Antonio at the 2022 trade deadline.
White has established himself among the best perimeter defenders in basketball, earning back-to-back All-Defensive Team selections. He has also evolved into a 38.9 percent 3-point shooter over the last two seasons, knocking down countless big shots while providing the Jays with ball-handling and scoring relief.
White has become a crucially important piece to this Celtics team, but will he be willing to take a slight pay cut to remain in Boston?
White is eligible for a four-year, $122 million extension, per the Dunc'd On Podcast with Nate Duncan and John Hollinger. That would put him in the same ballpark as players like Jamal Murray, Brandon Ingram and Tyler Herro in terms of average annual value ($30.5 million per year).
White is worth that potential deal but given Boston's pricey financial situation, it may not extend a max offer. It does feel like he would want to continue to pursue championships with the Celtics as long as he gets a respectable deal close to that max range.
"Boston will be very much open to a White contract extension per league sources this summer despite the looming financial challenges," MassLive's Brian Robb reported ahead of Game 3 of the Finals.
"We'd love to have Derrick as long as we can have Derrick," President of basketball operations Brad Stevens said during Boston's playoff run.
"I haven't been in this job long, but that one doesn't feel like brain surgery to me. If we can keep Derrick White around here, that's probably a good idea."
MORE: Derrick White breaks tooth in Game 5 of NBA Finals
Celtics upcoming free agents
The Celtics don't have too much to worry about for free agents this immediate offseason.
Oshae Brissett has a $2.5 million player option. It will be interesting to see if the 25-year-old elects to try and find a bigger contract and role elsewhere. Sam Hauser ($2.1 million) and Neemias Queta ($2.2 million) have team options for the 2024-25 season.
Hauser is the key free agent to watch. The 26-year-old sharpshooter shot 42.4 percent from 3 this season and showed tangible improvement on the defensive end.
Boston could simply pick up Hauser's team option. It could also decline it to try and sign him to a respectable contract, keep him in the rotation and prevent him from entering the open market in 2025.
Luke Kornet, Xavier Tillman Sr. and Svi Mykhailiuk are all unrestricted free agents. The former two players fill out Boston's frontcourt rotation, so it would be in its best interest to retain one (or both) of them as long as the price is reasonable.
Two-way guard J.D. Davison is the Celtics' only restricted free agent.
| Unrestricted | Restricted | Player option | Team option |
| Luke Kornet | J.D. Davison | Oshae Brissett | Sam Hauser |
| Svi Mykhailiuk | Neemias Queta | ||
| Xavier Tillman Sr. |
Celtics future salaries, roster
The Celtics' front office should be lauded for handling its business early with its player's contract negotiations.
Horford signed a two-year extension in 2022. Brown (five-year supermax), Kristaps Porzingis (two years) and Payton Pritchard (four years) signed contract extensions ahead of the 2023-24 season.
Holiday signed a four-year extension just days before the 2024 NBA Playoffs tipped off.
If Tatum signs his supermax and the Celtics can find the right price for White, Boston's entire starting five will be under contract for at least two more seasons.
| Player | 2024-25 | 2025-26 | 2026-27 | 2027-28 | 2028-29 | 2029-30 |
| Jaylen Brown | $49.4M | $53.3M | $57.3M | $61.2M | $65.1M | UFA |
| Jayson Tatum | $34.9M | $37.1M (PO) | UFA | — | — | — |
| Jrue Holiday | $30M | $32.4M | $34.8M | $37.2M (PO) | UFA | — |
| Kristaps Porzingis | $29.3M | $30.7M | UFA | — | — | — |
| Derrick White | $20.1M | UFA | — | — | — | — |
| Al Horford | $9.5M | UFA | — | — | — | — |
| Payton Pritchard | $6.7M | $7.2M | $7.8M | $8.3M | UFA | — |
| Jaden Springer | $4M | RFA | — | — | — | — |
| Oshae Brissett | $2.5M (PO) | — | — | — | — | — |
| Neemias Queta | $2.2M (TO) | UFA | — | — | — | — |
| Sam Hauser | $2.1M (TO) | UFA | — | — | — | — |
| Jordan Walsh | $1.9M | $2.2M | $2.4M (TO) | UFA | — | — |
PO = Player option
TO = Team option
NG = Non-guaranteed
UFA = Unrestricted free agent
RFA = Restricted free agent
Celtics 2024 NBA Draft picks
The Celtics own two picks in the 2024 NBA Draft — No. 30 overall and No. 54 overall.
In my post-Lottery Mock Draft, I projected Boston to take Clemson forward PJ Hall at No. 30 and Arizona forward Keshad Johnson at No. 55.
Hall is a 6-10 stretch-four who is physical enough to bang bodies inside but also fits Boston's desire to have five shooters on the floor at once. Johnson is a 6-6 offensive-minded wing with freakish athleticism.
With that being said, do not be surprised to see the Celtics trade their first-round pick for multiple second-round picks.
Stevens traded back several times in the 2023 NBA Draft to acquire as many future second-rounders as possible. It feels inevitable they will implement the same strategy in this year's draft.