The Boston Celtics will be without Marcus Smart for the first time in nine years when they enter the court this season. The former Celtics’ longest-tenured player was moved to the Memphis Grizzlies this summer as part of the three-team deal that brought Kristaps Porzingis to Boston.
While the trade significantly improved Boston’s frontcourt, it left a gap at point guard that the C’s think Derrick White can fill.
“Derrick will be our starting point guard,” coach Joe Mazzulla said on Wednesday, according to The Athletic’s Jay King. Mr. Derrick White
According to HC Joe Mazzulla, will be the Celtics’ starting point guard next season.
White serving as a starter is far from a foreign occurrence. The 29-year-old guard appeared in all 82 games in 2022-23, starting 70 contests alongside Smart.
White saw bumps in every major statistical category when compared to his 28-game showing the season prior, averaging 12.4 points, 3.9 assists, 3.6 rebounds and 0.7 steals.
Of course, Smart was a stalwart on the defensive end during his Celtics career. Yet, many would argue that White was actually Boston’s best on-ball defender last season, earning All-Defensive Second Team honors.
Derrick White’s 11 straight games with a blocked shot this spring tied the 2nd-longest streak in NBA history by a player under 6'5".
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1. David Thompson (6' 4"): 13 games, ('77-78)
2. Derrick White (6' 4"): 11 games ('22-23)
Dwyane Wade (6' 4"): 11 games ('11 -12, ‘04-05) pic.twitter.com/NM1Jf4JrYY— Taylor Snow (@taylorcsnow) July 20, 2023
White is more than capable of playing on the ball offensively. His most productive season as a distributor came in 2021-22, when he averaged 5.6 assists per game for the San Antonio Spurs. Nonetheless, the Celtics will have a plethora of ballhandlers this season.
Barring a trade, reigning Sixth Man of the Year Malcolm Brogdon, who started 146 games at point guard for the Indiana Pacers over three seasons, should be up to the challenge.
Then there’s Jayson Tatum, who has grown increasingly comfortable functioning as a point forward in recent seasons, as seen by his career-high 4.6 assists per game this season.
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