When are the contract extension deadlines for Derrick White and Payton Pritchard?

It’s been a whirlwind of an offseason for the Boston Celtics.

President of Basketball Operations Brad Stevens has meticulously executed an enormous roster overhaul, together with his newest acquisition being All-Star guard Jrue Vacation. Boston’s roster is sort of full, though the workforce does nonetheless have a few open roster spots with a noticeable gap to fill within the frontcourt following Rob Williams’ departure.

Exterior of a possible huge man addition, what you see is what you get with the 2023-24 Celtics, at the least for the second. Coaching camp is underway, with the primary preseason sport this Sunday towards the Philadelphia 76ers.

Regardless of having restricted roster strikes left to make, there are nonetheless some essential choices for Stevens to contemplate over the approaching weeks that don’t essentially have an effect on this season. Two key members of the workforce’s backcourt rotation are extension eligible, Derrick White and Payton Pritchard.

Right here’s the whole lot it’s essential find out about these potential offers, with my ideas on how possible they could possibly be.

Derrick White

Extension Deadline: October 23

Present Contract: 2 years remaining (2025 Unrestricted Free Agent) — 2023-24: $17.6 million; 2024-25: $18.8 million

White grew to become eligible for an extension in September and final month, a deal appeared logical for either side. Marcus Good had been dealt and White was slated to maneuver into Boston’s start line guard function coming off one of the profitable seasons of his profession.

Nonetheless, following the Celtics’ acquisition of Jrue Vacation, the prospects of Stevens and White agreeing to a deal earlier than the October 23 deadline appear slim. Vacation turns into extension eligible himself in February, and it has been reported by ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski that Boston is keen to succeed in a cope with the star guard. Stevens all however confirmed that report throughout Vacation’s introductory press convention on Wednesday.

Assuming that’s the plan, then the Celtics can have 4 gamers locked up long-term on large offers in Vacation, Jaylen Brown, Kristaps Porzingis, and Jayson Tatum, who shall be eligible to signal a supermax extension subsequent offseason.

Boston is already over the second apron of the luxurious tax, and whereas possession continues to reiterate its dedication to paying for a contending product, there’s solely a lot they’ll realistically spend working throughout the new CBA. For all the explanations listed above, a deal doesn’t appear practical for the versatile guard previous to the deadline. It’s additionally value noting that with two years remaining on his present contract, Stevens seemingly received’t really feel rushed to succeed in an settlement.

Verdict: Extension unlikely this offseason

Payton Pritchard

Extension Deadline: October 23

Present Contract: 1 12 months remaining (2024 Restricted Free Agent) — 2023-24: $4.04 million

The Celtics picked up Pritchard’s $4.04 million choice for the upcoming 12 months, setting him as much as enter restricted free company within the following offseason. That creates a bit extra urgency for Boston to lock the younger guard up than there could also be with White, because the workforce is aware of all too nicely how powerful it may be to retain restricted free brokers (see Grant Williams).

The Athletic’s Jared Weiss lately reported that the Celtics have really opened contract negotiations with Pritchard, though a large hole stays. That is smart, as Pritchard’s restricted minutes through the years have seemingly led Stevens to supply a contract decrease than the guard thinks he’s value.

If the 2 sides are in a position to come to an settlement earlier than the October 23 deadline, an annual wage someplace within the realm of the present non-taxpayer mid-level exception ($12,405,000) could possibly be practical.

There are execs and cons to a possible extension for Pritchard. On one finish, if Boston is assured in his skill to efficiently assume a full-time rotation function as at present projected, agreeing to a deal now might end in his contract changing into a steal, much like the extension Stevens signed Rob Williams to a few years in the past. Nonetheless, in the event that they do give Pritchard non-taxpayer MLE cash and he finally ends up falling out of the rotation, that deal might turn into ugly fairly rapidly.

That stated, it by no means hurts to have gamers locked up on “tweener” contracts, because it helps with wage matching in future trades. Stevens seems to be legitimately excessive on Pritchard’s probabilities of changing into a severe issue for the Celtics this 12 months, and if that’s the case, an extension is actually possible.

Verdict: Sensible probability of an extension this offseason

With the deadline for these extensions lower than three weeks away, it will likely be fascinating to see how negotiations play out for every of Boston’s guards, particularly after one other essential backcourt participant was added to the rotation.