- The Celtics will have a new starting lineup next season
The Boston Celtics had yet another terrific regular season in 2022-23. They went 57-25 and were the second seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs.
The Celtics defeated the Atlanta Hawks in the first round of the 2023 postseason and the Philadelphia 76ers in the second round to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals for the fourth time in the Jayson Tatum-Jaylen Brown era, which began in 2017-18.
Boston’s front office decided to change things by trading Smart to the Memphis Grizzlies and Williams to the Dallas Mavericks and acquiring Kristaps Porzingis from the Washington Wizards this offseason. The Celtics’ roster changes mean second-year head coach Joe Mazzulla will have a new starting lineup next season.
Derrick White will be the Celtics’ starting point guard next season, according to Mazzulla. Boston’s head coach revealed this tidbit on July 31.
White finished the 2023 playoffs with averages of 13.4 points, 3.0 rebounds and 2.1 assists. He hit the game-winning shot in Game 6 versus the Heat at the buzzer to force a Game 7. White, who began his career with the San Antonio Spurs, made the 2022-23 All-Defensive second team.
Malcolm Brogdon, who won the 2022-23 Sixth Man of the Year Award, will be asked to lead the Celtics’ bench once again next season.
Jaylen Brown signed a five-year, $304 million supermax extension with the Celtics this summer. It’s the richest deal in NBA history.
The 26-year-old Brown is slated to make $52.3 million when his new contract kicks in during the 2024-25 season and $69.1 million in 2028-29, the final year of the deal. He was not eligible for a no-trade clause because he signed an extension.
The Celtics have had a lot of success with Brown, making the playoffs every season and reaching the NBA Finals in 2022. Boston drafted Brown with the third overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft out of California. It will be interesting to see if the Celtics can win a title with Brown.