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Unsurprisingly, the Boston Celtics are expected to come to terms with Jayson Tatum and Derrick White on contract extensions after the two played huge roles in the team’s 18th NBA championship.
Longtime NBA reporter Marc Stein reported the latest news.
“Jayson Tatum’s forthcoming five-year, $315 million extension is regarded leaguewide as a layup in an empty gym in terms of inevitably. Tatum and the Celtics, though, might need until next week to actually come to a verbal agreement on the deal with the new champs currently partying in Miami in advance of Friday’s championship parade in Boston.
“Derrick White is also regarded as a near-certain recipient of a contract extension this offseason, which would mean all five of Boston’s best players will possess contracts awarded over the past year (and change).”
The 26-year-old Tatum, a five-time All-Star, just averaged 26.9 points, 8.1 rebounds and 4.9 assists. He closed out the Dallas Mavericks in the NBA Finals with a 31-point, 11-assist, eight-rebound effort in a 106-88 victory on Tuesday.
White, who just made the NBA All-Defensive second team for the second straight year, posted 15.2 points, 5.2 assists and 4.2 rebounds per game. He was particularly sensational in the first round against the Miami Heat, averaging 22.4 points on 57.7 percent shooting.
So it’s abundantly clear that Tatum and White, who just helped the Celtics win 64 regular-season games before amassing a 16-3 playoff record, deserve to stick around long-term.
Tatum has one year left on his current contract for $34.8 million next season. He could enter free agency if he declines his 2025-26 player option, although based on Stein’s report, that would appear to be a moot point if an extension this offseason seems inevitable.
White has one year remaining on his deal for $20.1 million. He is currently slated for free agency after this season.
Presuming the Celtics get deals done with Brown and Tatum, they would then lock in their top five players (and scorers) through the 2025-26 season, with Jaylen Brown, Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porziņģis also in town for the next couple of years at least.
Brown, the NBA Finals MVP, notably signed a five-year, $304 million supermax extension last offseason. Holiday is under contract for three more years at $97.2 million and also has a 2027-28 player option. Porziņģis has two years left and $60 million remaining on his deal.
That’s bad news for the rest of the league as the Celtics were the NBA’s best team all year before dominating in the playoffs. A dynasty isn’t out of the question now, with the Celtics appearing to sign their top talent for the foreseeable future.
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