NBA Notebook: New shot guiding Derrick White into second Celtics season

Derrick White said repeatedly on the morning of Game 4 against the Heat in the East Finals that he needed to be aggressive. As coaches talked up his ability to do the little things, despite struggling to shoot (33% FG through 14 games), he reached a new low the previous night, scoring 0 points in 14 minutes off the bench in a six-point Game 3 loss. He bounced back attacking P.J. Tucker and Max Strus in transition from the jump, scoring two transition baskets in two minutes to spark a 26-4 run and tie the series, 2-2. 

Four months later, as his son Hendrix begins to smile more, play with toys and move around on his own and training camp begins, White's reflecting on the whirlwind four months prior to Boston's NBA Finals loss. Hannah, his wife, gave birth in May, so he flew home and missed Game 2 against Miami days before that scoreless showing. The Celtics acquired White in February after the Spurs provided little indication he'd be traded. His family needed to move to Boston during the all-star break and he transitioned to an off-ball role on a team full of scorers.

"I feel like from February until June, it was the craziest four months of my life," White said at media day. "It just happened so fast, having a kid during it. So this year I feel just much more comfortable, I know everybody, everybody knows me and I'm excited for the year to start and I feel much more settled in."

The moments where it all came together fell short of the ones where everything seemed to be changing in his life at once. It all rattled what should've been an ideal opportunity. Still, his screen-and-rolls forced the Heat to react and opened easy scoring opportunities for himself around the basket, looking at his best during the east finals. Erik Spoelstra told his team to treat White like a seven-footer. 

Adding minor tweaks to his shot this summer, White's feeling that tall entering his first full camp in Boston. He's shooting alongside Celtics assistant and shot guru Ben Sullivan, who knew the San Antonio system White came from, and is releasing the ball more fluidly, with a higher release point and without the same lean that flattened his jumper in the spring. White shot 30.6% from three with Boston and 31.3% during the 23-game playoff run. Sullivan didn't personally change any of White's mechanics, and is more focused on helping the guard read the game and determine when to shoot and when not to.

"Shooting is also so mental and finding your comfort zone within the offense, within your teammates," Sullivan told Boston Sports Journal after practice on Thursday. "Whose turn is to shoot or how are we running the play? Just figuring all that stuff out and then that plays as much of a role in the ability to shoot as anything else, and so I think that his comfort level with his situation, with his teammates, with the coaches, he knows where he is, he knows who he is, he knows who he's playing with and I think that's only going to help him be more comfortable on the court shooting the basketball." 

White took 28.7% of his three-point attempts while wide open (6+ feet of space) and converted only 28.8% of them. That mark fell well short of Al Horford's 35.6%, the next lowest mark in that situation on a team that thrived while creating quality looks. Ime Udoka and the coaching staff liked the attempts. They pushed White to keep firing and that culminated in his 7-for-12 explosion from deep to start the NBA Finals. From then on, he fell to 23.1% from beyond the arc, watching his minutes dwindle alongside his other teammates off the bench. 

The Celtics haven't discussed roles yet at training camp, but White could be in line for fewer minutes with Malcolm Brogdon's arrival. White embraced Brogdon at media day, and his defense keeps him in play for minutes. His size and speed let him swarm offensive players off-ball as he did to Steph Curry early in the Finals. White perfectly contested Curry's now-iconic three late in Golden State's Game 4 comeback. 

Small ball lineups present opportunities for White, and interim head coach Joe Mazzulla made sure not to miss a guard's name while addressing his back court this week, even throwing in 6-8 Sam Hauser's in for good measure. Boston can play in a variety of styles and combinations, only switching in certain lineups defensively this week. They have the ability to throw three big guards on the court who can cover all three wing positions. 

"We're just trying to figure out what we have," Sullivan said. "We've added a couple of new faces and seeing how everyone fits. I'm not quite sure exactly how it all works, but the idea with the speed, the skill level, the talent, these guys can make plays for each other, drive to the paint, kick it, collapse, finish or whatever it is, but with the speed and the skill you think that everyone can create for each other. Now, what goes along with that is there's gonna have to be some sacrifice from different people at different times, like maybe you don't get to bring the ball up as much as you used to in your career or whatever, but the flipside is you don't have to. Someone else can do it, so you can just go down there, run a play, or whatever, so there's a give-and-take with a lot of that stuff." 

Brogdon set a tone early in camp talking about sacrifice as he's poised to accept a bench role for the first time since 2017-18. Payton Pritchard may find few if any minutes following a strong stretch run. Marcus Smart, after a solid first season starting at point guard and uneven finish, may need to prepare to see his teammates get run in key situations if they have it and he doesn't on a certain night. Brogdon squashed any discussion of a rift between himself and Smart at media day, noting they'll play together late in games more often than not. 

That'll often leave White off the floor in crunch time, probably not what the Celtics pictured when they traded rights to two future first-round picks and multiple rotation players for him last year. Sullivan refuted the notion there's any disappointment in the guard though. While he avoids building expectations himself for players, the move aimed to position a reliable, multi-dimensional player into their rotation and they got that, even if the shooting didn't improve playing next to Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. White's long-term contract gives him staying power next to that young core and Brad Stevens lauded his ability to make the game easier for others.

White does that with his cutting, rolling, quick decisions and direct-to-the-basket activity on the ball. It's clear he's a cerebral player. He reacts physically to the misses, and just as expressively while making players in other areas. White led all guards with 25 total charges taken last year and contested over 500 shots, sliding to the floor and pointing in the opposite direction with both fingers as the official signaled Celtics ball. That's where Sullivan notices a player's confidence, becoming that familiar face guiding White's workouts after Will Hardy left.

"One of the things I look for," Sullivan said. "Are they just making the right basketball play, whenever that moment arrives? And if that moment is to shoot it or drive it or pass it or screen or rebound, are they doing what is needed in that moment? If there's no hesitation or no concern to go ahead and step into whatever it is, whether it be a shot, pass, floater, drive, whatever you're talking about. When I see them in that state when there's no hesitation, that tells me that there's confidence there." 

Here's what else happened in the NBA this week...

Atlanta: Dejounte Murray returned to training camp after missing the start with a non-COVID illness earlier this week. Bogdan Bogdanovic remains out following right knee surgery during the offseason with GM Landry Fields forecasting his return in time for the regular season. Rookie A.J. Griffin missed the team's first practices too, limited to one-on-one work with an ankle injury, something he dealt with in college. He missed part of the summer with a foot injury. The team traded for 6-8 Thunder guard Vit Krejci, sending back Moe Harkless and a second-round pick, clearing Harkless' $4.5 million salary after acquiring him in the Kevin Huerter trade. 

Boston: Mixed in Luke Kornet and two-way center Mfiondu Kabengele with the Celtics' starters in practice for Robert Williams III, who underwent left knee surgery last week and will miss 8-12 weeks. Al Horford is preparing to play as often as possible, including during back-to-backs, while Grant Williams and Boston's big wings help fill minutes in the front court. Kornet sprained his ankle on Thursday, according to Shams Charania, and will miss 1-2 weeks. Boston quickly moved to sign veteran Blake Griffin after watching his LA workout. 

Joe Mazzulla coached his first round of practices in place of suspended head coach Ime Udoka, challenging Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum, while indicating he'll keep things the same structurally and strategically for this team. Elsewhere, Jay Larranaga, now a Clippers assistant after coaching on Brad Stevens' staff from 2013-2021, declined an overture from the Celtics to join Mazzulla's staff.

Brooklyn: Steve Nash and Kevin Durant went on damage control at Nets media day, Nash downplaying Durant's reported demand for ownership to fire him while Durant indicated his requests stemmed from how the team responded to adversity last year. He denied intervening on Kyrie Irving's future, while both players acknowledged last year ended in embarrassment. Nash also addressed Ben Simmons' role as he returned to practice after not playing last season with the Nets, placing no pressure on the big man to start shooting. 

"I don't care if he ever shoots a jump shot for the Brooklyn Nets," Nash said. "He's welcome to, but that is not what makes him special and not what we need. He's a great complement to our team, and he's an incredible basketball player because of his versatility."

Charlotte: Hornets players and head coach Steve Clifford largely avoided questions regarding free agent Miles Bridges' future with the franchise, due to his ongoing domestic violence case in Los Angeles. That case is still in the hearing stage, and Clifford acknowledged the need for a contingency plan with P.J. Washington likely to take Bridges' spot in the starting lineup. Gordon Hayward said Bridges is irreplaceable, while other teammates acknowledged reaching out to him. LaMelo Ball hoped he'll be able to return to the team someday. Charlotte maintains Bridges' rights as a restricted free agent, but he'd become unrestricted if he misses this season. Bridges pleaded not guilty to three charges for allegedly assaulting his girlfriend in front of their two children. 

Chicago: The Bulls came away from Lonzo Ball's third surgery on his left knee more confident he'll be able to play this season. Ball has struggled to run and even walk up stairs since an initial surgery to address a torn meniscus in January. The team will reevaluate him in 4-6 weeks, but even they aren't sure when he'll play. 

"You always try to stay optimistic that this will get resolved and he'll be fine," Billy Donovan said Thursday. "But until he gets back and gets into the situations that were causing him pain, to see how he responds in being back in those situations, we'll find out more. I don't know how long it will take before he can actually start the rehab process."

Cleveland: One of the early contenders for Suns forward Jae Crowder after he and the team appeared poised for a breakup following his demotion from Phoenix' starting lineup. The Cavaliers have an opening at the wing after trading Lauri Markkanen for Donovan Mitchell, and have a flexible array of contracts like Cedi Osman's to match Crowder's $10-million expiring contract. Landing Crowder, who played for the team briefly during the 2017-18 season, would reduce the pressure on Isaac Okoro to fill Cleveland's wing minutes. 

Dallas: New Mavericks big man Christian Wood is poised for a sixth man role, apparently in an effort to maintain Dallas' defensive continuity and slide free agent signing Javale McGee into a starting role. A question about that role surprised Wood at media day, but Kidd stood by his position to experiment throughout the flow of games. Wood, who arrived from Houston for a first-round pick, is entering the final year of his contract. He's been a starter since the 2019-20 season when he came off Detroit's bench. 

“I’m asking C-Wood to be himself,” Kidd said. “I’m not asking him to do anything that he hasn’t done. He’s been in this league. He understands how to score the ball. Team defense is something that we’ll help him with as we go along here, and he’s capable of doing it, so we’ll hold him accountable to that. But I think being able to just play his game, I don’t need him to be The Microwave. I just need him to be C-Wood.” 

Denver: The Nuggets flashed their dangerous starting unit in Thursday's scrimmages, Jamal Murray, Michael Porter Jr., Nikola Jokic and Aaron Gordon, among the league's best lineups in 2021, with Bruce Brown filling in for Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (calf). Murray and Porter Jr. aren't back to themselves, but expect to start the year after missing the 2021-22 season with ACL and back surgeries. 

“It brings back so many good memories,” Michael Malone said. "They know each other so well and how to play off of each other. Most importantly, they know how to make each other better. I’m just thankful we have that two-man combo (of Murray and Jokic) back.”

Detroit: Teammates had rave reviews for rookie Jaden Ivey's speed in the opening days of training camp, with Cory Joseph comparing him to Russell Westbrook for that open-court burst. His backcourt mate Killian Hayes, the former No. 7 overall pick from the 2020 draft, remains in play for a major backcourt role following offseason shooting adjustments, particularly working on his foot placement and release point. He's shot 37.4% (26.8% 3PT) through his first two NBA seasons.

Golden State: Tipped off the 2022-23 season on Friday morning against the Pistons in Japan. The Warriors have more long-term questions than short-term ones as defending champions, Draymond Green arriving to training camp and declaring he doesn't expect to agree to an extension with Golden State ahead of his possible free agency next summer. Green has pressured the Warriors with a major contract demand while they balance Jordan Poole and Andrew Wiggins' futures with the franchise beyond next summer. The luxury tax implications of retaining all three at max salaries would multiply their average annual salaries by over four times.

Tim Kawakami outlined, through GM Bob Myers, how trying to sign Poole for a smaller figure than he's likely to find in free agency could give the Warriors a chance at more flexibility later, rather than making any immediate decisions. That played out when the Warriors couldn't extend Harrison Barnes before declining to offer him a maximum extension allowed them the ability to sign Kevin Durant the next summer. 

Houston/Oklahoma City: The Thunder traded recently acquired Moe Harkless with Atlanta's second-round pick alongside Derrick Favors, Ty Jerome and Theo Maledon for David Nwaba, Sterling Brown, Trey Burke and Marquese Chriss from the Rockets. Oklahoma City cleared more space beneath the luxury tax threshold, while the Rockets cleared out the extra roster players acquired in the Christian Wood trade. Houston will waive Jerome, while Favors, 31, will probably remain on the Rockets with Maledon for now. 

Indiana: The Pacers will play a large rotation this season, Rick Carlisle indicated at training camp, which could open opportunity for former Celtics forward Aaron Nesmith entering his first season with the team. His teammate Myles Turner enters at least the third season being involved in trade reports, this one the final year of his contract, and he said he's learned to take emotion out of his career. He'll make $17.5 million this season. 

Clippers: Kawhi Leonard returned to Clippers practice and played five-on-five for the first time since tearing his ACL in 2021. Paul George joined him after a season derailed by a shoulder injury that's since fully healed. Leonard entered camp with additional muscle head coach Ty Lue expects he'll use as a basis for sustaining through the season. Both players will sit for the preseason opener on Friday in Seattle against the Blazers. 

Lakers: Media day played out as awkwardly as expected with Russell Westbrook saying he's just showing up to work after an offseason where he was reportedly floated in multiple trade talks, had long-time rival Patrick Beverley join the backcourt and could be facing a bench role with the arrival of Dennis Schroder only further crowding the guard depth chart. Schroder hasn't arrived yet as he works through a visa issue following his run with Team Germany in EuroBasket. Regardless of how the backcourt shakes out, this team's potential is almost entirely reliant on Anthony Davis' health, which he acknowledged limited his ability to shoot last year. He'll play a roving, center field role in LA's defense, Darvin Ham said, following knee, foot and wrist ailments in 2022.

Memphis: The Grizzlies will experiment without Jaren Jackson Jr. to start the season, who remains without a timeline to return from offseason foot surgery. His absence may be shorter than originally expected, but rookies Jake LaRavia, David Roddy along with Santi Aldama and Brandon Clarke give Memphis the ability to be patient with their big man even in a competitive west. They've played as interchangeably as any team recently. 

Miami: Jae Crowder hasn't hidden his desire to return to the Heat since his trade standoff with the Suns began earlier this month. His agent has been in contact with Miami after Phoenix gave Crowder's camp permission to seek a trade destination, but it's still difficult to imagine how the Heat would match salary and compensate the Suns. Miami would probably need to forgo Caleb Martin, who the team is high on as a starter in P.J. Tucker's place this year. Tucker replaced Crowder after his departure from the Heat, who he helped reach the NBA Finals in 2020. As expected, Miami offered Duncan Robinson for Crowder in a move that the Suns rejected.

Milwaukee: While the Bucks await the return of Khris Middleton (wrist) and Joe Ingles (knee) to start the NBA season, Milwaukee retained Grayson Allen and Wes Matthews after rough series against the Celtics and rounded out the roster re-signing Jordan Nwora for one more chance at breaking into the rotation. Rookie MarJon Beauchamp could become this team's x-factor early in the season after a big summer. 

Minnesota: The Timberwolves raved about the amount of future first-round picks they dealt for Rudy Gobert because they allowed the team to retain forward Jaden McDaniels. He'll now become the essential figure in the team's scoring and wing depth after the Wolves almost abandoned talks with Utah on Gobert due to their desire to retain him. McDaniels averaged 9.2 PPG and 4.2 RPG while shooting 46% from the field last year.

“We fought extremely hard to keep Jaden out of the deal,” Chris Finch said. “Everybody wants Jaden. We get a lot of phone calls, as you should want a young (6-9), two-way player with tremendous upside.”

New Orleans: Zion Williamson dominated his first scrimmages of Pelicans training camp marking his return from a year-long absence due to a foot fracture. Williamson appeared slimmer at media day and in great spirits following a season where his commitment to the franchise seemed tepid. Now, after New Orleans challenged Phoenix in the first round and boasting an impressive starting lineup, Williamson could top his remarkable 2021. 

"He looks like Z," Larry Nance said. "Dude hasn't played basketball for 500-something days. It's not like none of us are expecting that right away but shoot, I got to be honest with you, dude looks good. It's going to take time for everybody to adjust to him. It's going to take him time to adjust to everybody, but it's hard not to be impressed."

New York: Poised to start Evan Fournier over Quentin Grimes, who was reportedly held tight by the Knicks in trade talks for Donovan Mitchell over the summer. Julius Randle will also retain his major role over young rim-runner Obi Toppin, who struggled to find consistent playing time behind New York's big men and now has to battle with Isaiah Hartenstein too. Having missed Mitchell, it'll be interesting how a relatively young team pivots toward the future with a veteran-oriented coach in Tom Thibodeau. Young players need consistent minutes. 

Orlando: As Jonathan Isaac (hamstring) returns from a two-year hamstring injury, Markelle Fultz suffered a setback in his own path back from his knee tear with a big toe injury that's not expected to require surgery. Fultz will miss training camp and has no timetable for a return. With Isaac progressing cautiously, Bol Bol, Mo Bamba and rookie Paolo Banchero should receive plenty of preseason opportunity in the front court while Cole Anthony, Jalen Suggs and R.J. Hampton should receive opportunity in Fultz' place early this season. 

Philadelphia: James Harden quipped he lost 100 pounds over the offseason, setting an optimistic tone for a critical season with the 76ers where rivals Brooklyn, Boston and Milwaukee could be vulnerable as they figure out chemistry, coaching and rotation questions early in the season. Philadelphia is conducting training camp in Charleston, South Carolina, where Harden rejoiced following a summer of diet and exercise focus after recent offseasons spent rehabbing from a nagging hamstring injury. Joel Embiid emphasized defense in his early media availabilities, while P.J. Tucker has been cleared for on-court work following an offseason knee surgery. 

Phoenix: Cam Johnson will start for the Suns on the wing as Phoenix looks to find more floor spacing and flexibility offensively. Johnson shot 42.5% from deep, taking a leap to 12.5 PPG off the bench in his third NBA season. The move will likely cost the team Jae Crowder, who recoiled ahead of his likely demotion and agreed with Phoenix to skip training camp while the team seeks a trade. 

Miami, Memphis, Boston, Dallas, among others, could land Crowder, according to Shams Charania, but the Suns in win-now mode will demand a replacement. A Cavaliers depth wing or Caleb Martin make sense. The team on the other side needs to be confident Crowder can bounce back from an uneven season where he shot 39.9% FG. Coincidentally, many of the teams expected to contend for his services entering his contract year already had him on their roster. 

Portland: Shaedon Sharpe's first action for the Trail Blazers will be his first since high school after a string of injuries ended his Kentucky and Summer League stints before they began. Portland picked the 19-year-old No. 7 overall based on potential, and the team will make him earn his spot in their rotation with Damian Lillard leading a team that intends to win. Jerami Grant arrived this offseason and Jusuf Nurkic returned, rounding out a roster that looks like it could be in the play-in mix if they get more improvement from Anfernee Simons. 

Sacramento: A big summer for Keegan Murray made me go from falling out of my seat after the Kings passed on Jaden Ivey to thinking this could've been the craftiest Kings move in two decades. Summer basketball isn't everything, but Murray looks like one of those frontline scoring wings with enormous size and length who dominate the NBA now. He can shoot, facilitate and defend, and joins a surprisingly talented roster led by De'Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis. This might be the League Pass darling of the 2022-23 season. 

San Antonio: Ominous words from head coach Gregg Popovich ahead of the season regarding anyone considering wagering on the Spurs as 2023 champions: "It's probably not gonna happen."

Toronto: Inevitably one of many teams keeping an eye on what the Thunder will do with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander if they can't pivot toward winning in the near term. Rather than any indication of Gilgeous-Alexander's future, which appears cemented in Oklahoma for now, it underscores how dangerous the Raptors could become in coming seasons. Beyond Scottie Barnes' enormous potential, Masai Ujiri has the cachet to make a blockbuster deal for a star at any time and Toronto continues to develop the pieces to make it happen. It's hard not to appreciate a group doing things a different way, going all-in on wings without big men, and playing a sporadic, random defensive system that baffled the Celtics at times last year. Look out for them again.

Utah: Former Celtics Will Hardy, Danny Ainge and Kelly Olynyk now have major roles in Salt Lake City entering 2022-23, but this year is all about young prospects Ochai Agbaji, Simone Fontecchio, Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Walker Kessler, and whatever other opportunities emerge to solidify that youth movement through their outstanding core of veterans from the past Jazz era. Utah is open for business.