A summer time of change has left the Boston Celtics wanting very totally different heading into the brand new season and Derrick White is anxious.
Following a playoff exit by the hands of the New York Knicks and Jayson Tatum’s torn Achilles, the entrance workplace was compelled to navigate the second tax apron with some main roster choices.
Kristaps Porzingis was traded to the Atlanta Hawks, Jrue Vacation landed in Portland, Luke Kornet signed with San Antonio, and Al Horford stays unsigned. That left solely Jaylen Brown and Derrick White because the remaining starters from the crew that gained the 2023–24 championship.
White admitted the roster turnover hit exhausting.
“Yeah, I imply, that’s the robust half in regards to the enterprise,” White mentioned, by way of Sports activities Illustrated. “However it’s a enterprise on the finish of the day. Jrue, KP, Luke [Kornet], all of them, it was positively robust to see them go away. You want we may play with them endlessly, however that is form of the way in which it’s. I at all times want them the very best. There might be plenty of enjoyable after we see them once more. And I’m simply excited to play with the folks we do have.”
White is coming off his greatest season but, averaging a career-high 16.4 factors per recreation.
With Tatum sidelined and two starters gone, the 30-year-old guard is aware of his position will develop.
“I’m excited,” White mentioned. “It’s clearly a distinct 12 months than final 12 months, however I feel we’ve got the identical expectations and requirements. So I’ve been attacking this offseason as, ‘I gotta get higher.’ It’s been actually enjoyable making an attempt to get within the health club and enhance on issues that I have to work on. After we get again to Boston, it’ll be plenty of enjoyable.”
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