Joe Mazzulla says that Derrick White will probably be Celtics’ start line guard in 2023-24

Celtics

“We’ve got the power to play in numerous methods. We’ve got the power to play small and play massive.”

With Marcus Good traded to Memphis earlier this summer season in a blockbuster deal for Kristaps Porzingis, the Celtics will flip to Derrick White because the group’s start line guard for the 2023-24 season. 

Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla confirmed the lineup reshuffle throughout Wednesday’s press convention for Jaylen Brown’s new five-year, $304 million supermax contract.

Whereas White, 29, will probably be tasked with conducting Boston’s offense from one in every of its two beginning guard positions, Mazzulla famous that Malcolm Brogdon and Peyton Pritchard may also have expanded roles following Good’s departure.

“Derrick will probably be our start line guard, and he will probably be one in every of our beginning guards,” Mazzulla stated, per MassLive.com’s Souichi Terada. “We’ve got the power to play in numerous methods. We’ve got the power to play small and play massive, so with a number of the adjustments that we’ve made, it opens up a number of alternatives for Derrick, Payton, and Malcolm.”

White is getting into his third season with the Celtics, with the versatile guard averaging 12.4 factors, 3.9 assists, and three.6 rebounds in 28.3 minutes per recreation final yr.

Regardless that his stats might not precisely stand out, White’s defensive capability and flexibility will probably be welcomed in Boston’s beginning lineup regularly. White earned a spot within the All-Defensive Second Workforce through the 2022-23 season.

White’s promotion within the wake of Good’s commerce isn’t precisely a lot of a shock, particularly given his contributions all through the 2022-23 season. Even with beginning PG duties, White will nonetheless seemingly defer on offense to Boston’s two prime conduits in Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown.

The depth chart behind White will probably be value monitoring relating to each Brogdon and Pritchard.

At one level, Brogdon was reportedly the guard on the transfer within the Porzingis deal, just for it to ultimately fall by. The Celtics reportedly now have little interest in buying and selling Brogdon, who’s the reigning Sixth Man of the 12 months. 

Pritchard, who will be part of the USA Choose Workforce this summer season, is due for a bigger function in 2023-24. The 25-year-old guard has expressed his want for a bigger function, be it with the Celtics or one other group. 

Extra minutes ought to be on the horizon for Pitchard, who solely performed in 48 video games final season and averaged simply 13.4 minutes per contest.

“I believe that’s actually essential that these three have a possibility to develop them and assist them on each ends of the ground,” Mazzulla stated of White, Brogdon, and Pritchard. “These three guys on the guard spot are part of our id and part of what we have to get to on offense and protection.”