Talking candidly on the newest episode of his “White Noise” podcast, Derrick White acknowledged how “totally different” the upcoming Celtics season feels following the franchise’s offseason roster overhaul.
Between Jayson Tatum’s Achilles harm and the departures of Kristaps Porzingis, Jrue Vacation, Luke Kornet and Al Horford, Boston will enter the 2025-26 marketing campaign with out greater than half of its core rotation from final season. White — one of many few returning mainstays together with fellow starter Jaylen Brown and prime reserves Payton Pritchard and Sam Hauser — is aware of the expectations for this new-look group have modified.
“It’s undoubtedly going to be totally different. It needs to be,” the veteran guard mentioned. “We misplaced KP, Jrue, Luke, and clearly JT being out. So, you lose three out of 5 starters. And even Al. So it’s undoubtedly going to vary. We’re a youthful staff. Sort of ever since I’ve been in Boston, we’ve had the identical core. We’ve had the identical group. Clearly, we nonetheless have lots of people from (these groups) — me, JB, Sam, Payton — those that know the way we do issues. However I believe that’ll be most likely the largest adjustment — simply getting everyone accustomed to how we do issues in Boston and the way we prefer to play, how we function. So I believe that would be the largest adjustment, simply getting the brand new guys on board as shortly as potential.
“Clearly, we’ve obtained coaching camp and every little thing, and I’ve heard everyone is already on the market (in Boston) just about, so that they’re already most likely getting a begin. However then we’re simply hooping. We’ve obtained a bunch of opponents.”
Of the 5 new gamers on the Celtics’ 15-man roster, only one (former Path Blazers guard Anfernee Simons) has been a constant NBA starter. The remainder are both profession backups (Luka Garza, Josh Minott and Chris Boucher) or new to the league (first-round draft decide Hugo Gonzalez).
Boucher, a longtime Toronto Raptor who performed with Pritchard at Oregon, has “all the time introduced numerous power,” White mentioned. Garza and Minott, deep reserves in Minnesota for the final three seasons, are “simply hungry to sort of show themselves.” White mentioned he’s additionally heard good issues about Simons, who averaged 20.7 factors and eight.8 3-point makes an attempt per sport over his three seasons as a starter in Portland, and is trying ahead to “bringing him alongside and instructing him how we do issues.”
“I believe it’s thrilling,” White mentioned. “We’ve obtained guys who’re hungry. They need to show themselves. They need to assist us win video games.”
Brown, lengthy the 1B to Tatum’s 1A, could have a possibility to be Boston’s central star for the primary time in his profession, and White ought to tackle a extra outstanding offensive function, as effectively. The 31-year-old set the Celtics’ single-season record for made 3-pointers final season however was the staff’s fourth-leading scorer behind Tatum, Brown and Porzingis.
The Celtics have not announced a timeline for Tatum’s return, however he’s anticipated to overlook most or all of this season whereas he recovers.
“I don’t know what my function goes to be sport to sport, and I sort of don’t need to be like, ‘Oh, I’ve to do that. JT’s out, so now I’ve to,’” White mentioned. “I don’t need to put myself in that thoughts. Clearly, I’ve been working laborious and attempting to determine how I can get higher, however I really feel like if I put myself in that mindset, I’m going to only perhaps press or do one thing that’s not me. I’ve obtained to remain true to who I’m, what makes me profitable, so I don’t know what the function’s going to be. No matter it is likely to be, I’m simply attempting to compete, I’m attempting to assist us win as many video games as potential, and I’m actually excited.”
One returning Celtic who’s more likely to see a a lot bigger workload this season is heart Neemias Queta, who could vault from fourth to first on the depth chart with Porzingis, Horford and Kornet gone.
“Neemi, (head coach) Joe (Mazzulla) has been tremendous laborious on him for the final couple years, sort of making ready him for one thing like this,” White mentioned. “Clearly, he’s going to need to have an enormous 12 months — I imply, he’s going to have an enormous 12 months, and we’re going to ask quite a bit out of him, which is thrilling. (He’s) a man that works laborious, competes at a excessive stage, simply persevering with to study what works within the NBA, what doesn’t work, how he may also help us. So we’re tremendous excited for Neemi, and I’m an enormous fan. He’s had so many alternative moments these final two years the place he’s helped us win video games or he’s modified the momentum of a sport, so it’s an enormous second for him.”
Winners of 60-plus video games in every of the final two seasons and 50-plus in every of the final 4, the Celtics are projected to be a fringe playoff staff at finest in 2025-26. Their championship odds at a number of main sportsbooks rank seventh within the Japanese Convention.
“We’ve obtained numerous expertise, and we’ve obtained a terrific teaching workers, so it’s going to be a enjoyable 12 months,” mentioned White, who’s reached two NBA Finals and received one championship since becoming a member of the Celtics in 2022. “(That is the) first time since I’ve been in Boston that individuals, like, don’t consider in us, in order that’s a enjoyable spot for me to be in, for positive. It’s sort of the place I’ve all the time carried out my finest, really.”
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