Celtics Winners and Losers from 2024 NBA Free Agency
Three simple words steered the Boston Celtics through 2024 NBA free agency.
Run it back.
Engineer the kind of campaign they just did—64 wins in the regular season, followed by a record-setting 18th championship for the franchise—and there is no need to seek out external assistance.
Boston's internal business produced a couple of obvious winners, but there was one loser during this process, too.
Winner: Derrick White
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Derrick White is the kind of player who can be tough to properly value. He isn't a star, but he is someone who can star in a supporting role.
It takes the right situation to fully appreciate what he brings, but he clearly found that in Boston. The Celtics just ensured he feels appreciated by handing him a four-year, $125.9 million contract extension.
"We are very lucky that Derrick is a Celtic and are thrilled he'll be here for years to come," Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens said.
This situation is perfect for White. He never has to shoulder too much of the offensive burden, but this club will let him cook when he has it rolling. He is high enough on the team hierarchy to be recognized for his two-way work, but he isn't so high that statistical dominance is demanded of him on a nightly basis.
Loser: Oshae Brissett
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Oshae Brissett entered this offseason with a bit of control.
He held a $2.5 million player option for next season, meaning that if he wanted to stick around and help the Celtics chase another championship, he could collect a couple million for doing exactly that. Yet, he decided he wanted more—minutes, money or both—so he declined the deal and headed into unrestricted free agency.
One month later, he's still awaiting his next opportunity.
He could always fetch out a new deal yet, but it's looking like he may have misread his market. He is a helpful, versatile defender, but his offensive limitations are real and rather severe. He is also 26 years old, so the idea of him possessing some untapped offensive potential could be a tough sell.
If given a chance to do things over, it's fair to wonder if he'd just pick up that option now.
Winner: Jayson Tatum
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Just because something is a formality, that doesn't mean there is any less cause to celebrate.
Jayson Tatum was destined for a supermax extension this summer, but it's hard to think that dampened his enthusiasm over inking the richest pact in league history (five years, $315 million). In case he needed any validation after three consecutive All-NBA first-team honors, this helped showcase his place among the game's greats.
"Despite all the team accomplishments and individual awards, Jayson is committed to constantly improving," Stevens said. "He works hard and is extremely driven by the challenges of the game—especially the goal of competing with his teammates for championships. We are obviously ecstatic that Jayson chose to extend his contract and add to his amazing career as a Boston Celtic."
It's been quite the summer for Tatum. He captured his first championship in June, signed this historic pact in July and is now spending August helping Team USA chase Olympic gold.
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