NBA Notebook: Can Derrick White replace Marcus Smart at point guard?

Joe Mazzulla announced last month that Derrick White will start in place of Marcus Smart this season and -- following an All-Defensive and 38.1% 3-point shooting season -- will begin a critical year of extension eligibility for himself and championship contention for the team. White can prove as much of a mainstay into the future as Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum and Kristaps Porziņģis -- with some adjustment.

"He'll be one of our starting guards," Mazzulla said. "We have the ability to play different ways, we have the ability to play small and we have the ability to play big. So with some of the changes we made, it opens up a lot of opportunities for Derrick, Payton (Pritchard) and Malcolm (Brogdon). I think that's really important, that those three feel like we have an opportunity to grow them, an opportunity to help them on both ends of the floor and those three guys at the guard spot are part of our identity and part of where we need to get to on offense."

White played mostly off-ball while starting next to Smart, Brown and Tatum last year, finishing fifth on the team in time of possession (3.2), behind even Brogdon (3.7). Boston needs to fill Smart's 4.1 minutes each night, and while Tatum (4.8) should receive another bump, White will become an equal beneficiary, taking the ball up the floor more often. 

White last stepped into that large of a role in 2019, logging 4.0 minutes on-ball each night, next to DeMar DeRozan in San Antonio. White struggled as a shooter then, but created nearly three assists for every turnover. That ball control should translate after averaging 3.9 assists and 1.2 turnovers per game.

The Spurs' pick-and-roll ball handlers thrived that year, averaging more points per possession on plays that finished in a shot, miss, or turnover following that action (0.92 PPP), more than all but three other teams. DeRozan logged most of those, 8.0 each night, though White filled in for 3.6 and averaged 0.88 PPP, ranking in the 63rd percentile of all NBA players. White shot 47.6% on roughly three shot attempts each night, though his effective field goal shooting fell below 50% due to taking fewer than one pull-up 3-pointer per game on a mid-range shooting roster.

"I don't think it'll be a big adjustment," White told ESPN. "I'll have the ball in my hands more, which I've done pretty much most of my career. Just getting back to that and getting the guys into the right spot, obviously with J.T., J.B., Porziņģis now, I have a lot of talented guys around me. That makes my job pretty easy."

White's overall offensive breakout and diminished role in crunch time added to the confidence the Celtics could sacrifice some point guard depth in favor of an all-star caliber big. Boston didn't run pick-and-rolls often (21st in possessions), given Robert Williams III's sparse availability, and entry passes for seals and post-ups? A rarity. White can provide those passes well, with little turnover risk. 

When White ran pick-and-roll last year, he managed 0.94 PPP, a step down from Smart (1.02), but not a massive one. Smart and White also compared favorably as screeners for Brown and Tatum, White particularly talented at orchestrating movement away from the ball. Tatum, Brown and Brogdon logged the majority of those sets, and Boston's overall 0.96 P&R PPP finished tied for fourth in 2023. Smart and Tatum loved running these sets together. 

Boston also bet on White's jump shot progression continuing, improving from 30.9% 3PT in total from 2022 with the Celtics to 39.7% on 501 attempts. For a team that relied heavily on three-point shooting, that could mark the definitive difference in White surmounting Smart, who shot 34.3% from deep all year. 

The Celtics eliminated the need for Smart to take the floor in crunch time, where opponents forced him to attempt 1.4 shots per game last postseason (0.8 3PA at 25%), more than Brown and almost as many as Tatum, through Game 5 of the Finals last postseason. Smart took 13 shots to Brown and Tatum's combined 10. Over 13 crunch-time games over the last two postseasons, Smart and Al Horford shot more often than Brown and Tatum. It became a fatal flaw to the team's late-game offense.

Will White create enough pause for opponents to not sell out on forcing the pass in those moments? He shot 39% on four catch-and-shoot attempts per game from three. As a pull-up shooter, White hit 35.1%, which he rarely attempted. Ben Sullivan, who worked with White on shooting, also departed for Houston this summer. 

White's shot creation may need to improve throughout the course of a game, but he takes little time to make decisions and rarely makes mistakes. Brown, Tatum and Porziņģis should also always share the floor with him, carving out space. White and Smart drove nearly equally in 2023, both shot 52% on those plays and generated 0.8 free throw attempts with 0.7 assists each. As Ime Udoka often said during his lone season in Boston, the Celtics don't lose much playing White in place of Smart.

"It all works together," Brad Stevens said. "Derrick is an outstanding player, he felt so much more comfortable this year, but like I said, it's not comparing one player against the other. It's just the way that this deal materialized, and the way that it gave us an opportunity to balance our roster, as heart-wrenching as it is to part with Marcus, it's something we felt like we had to do. We're gonna need Derrick to continue to be great, and we have no doubt that he will."

Defensively, White and Smart play differently in ways that'll require more adjustment. The Celtics will play more drop defense this year, likely switching less frequently and funneling ball screens toward the low-playing center. That should suit White well, All-Defense for his perimeter prowess with agile feet and hands. White drew charges more frequently than Smart did a year ago. He can't guard larger positions the way Smart could though, whether a big like Julius Randle, or even Porziņģis, as Smart once did. 

White became closer to a mismatch in the east finals while the Heat searched for defenders for Jimmy Butler to target. Butler would not pursue Smart that way. Boston won't fall off the map with White defending in place of Smart. The team could even improve with better drop personnel. It'll require some defensive overhaul and focus in training camp, with the loss of brute strength on that end undeniable aside from Al Horford.

The intangible loss looms large with Smart no longer present. The room will be eerily quiet when his former teammates return, White on the opposite end of the vocal spectrum. Perhaps a more amicable contributor is what the Celtics sought out next to their two stars. If White struggles on a given night, he'll have no problem going to the bench in favor of Brogdon or Pritchard. For all the criticism Smart received for his shooting and leadership aggression, both could provide a needed play or sense of urgency in important spots. 

Smart averaged 15.2 PPG, 5.2 APG and 2.4 TOV in the past two postseasons (35.5% 3PT), compared to White's 10.8 PPG, 2.4 APG and 1.1 TOV (39.4% 3PT). White needs to maintain some percentage of that confidence and flare for the moment, last postseason a success for him overall, with a flash of his past hesitancy in the Philadelphia series -- where he averaged 9.0 PPG and 1.0 APG on 42% FG. 

"Obviously with Smart leaving, there's that point guard role that I only played a little bit last year," White said. "I'm looking forward to it. I'll definitely have the ball in my hands in more of a playmaking role, and I'm looking forward to growing with the team and getting us in the right position each and every time."

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

Atlanta: Reportedly offered De'Andre Hunter and AJ Griffin, along with draft picks, for Raptors forward Pascal Siakam unsuccessfully, with Shams Charania noting talks paused earlier in the summer with the current Hawks roster prepared to enter the season. Hunter's name emerged in Pacers reports as well, placing his future with the team in some doubt before it traded John Collins to Utah. While clearing up luxury tax concerns, the move doesn't entirely guarantee Hunter a significant role in the team's future as Jalen Johnson and Onyeka Okongwu grow in the front court. It's also worth watching Siakam, playing on an expiring contract for a Raptors team that could fall out of contention earlier than usual.

Boston: Released their preseason schedule, including three games in four days in early October against the Sixers, then at New York and Philadelphia. The Knicks visit Boston on Oct. 17 before the Celtics travel to Charlotte on Oct. 19 to round out the preseason slate. Shams Charania also revealed two regular season games, Oct. 27 at home against the Heat, likely Boston's opening night, and on Christmas at the Lakers. 

A report, denied by Team Latvia, indicated that Kristaps Porziņģis' participation in this month's World Cup is in doubt due to a foot injury. Latvia faces the Dominican Republic in a scrimmage on Saturday, which Latvia said Porziņģis status will be updated ahead of. Oshae Brissett (knee) backed out of Team Canada and Al Horford declined to participate with the DR. 

Charlotte: Signed former Celtics first-round pick R.J. Hunter to a non-guaranteed deal, according to Chris Haynes. Hunter last played in the NBA with the Celtics on a two-way deal in 2018-19 after Boston initially waived him in 2016. He played in Turkey, Australia and the G-League since. Hunter suffered a left patellar rupture in 2022 in Sydney. He shot 40-for-95 in Turkey in 2021, missing the 2022-23 season recovering from injury. Hunter averaged 2.7 PPG and shot 30.2% from three with the Celtics as a rookie. He turns 30 this season. 

Dallas: Made a nice addition late in the offseason signing Bulls forward Derrick Jones Jr., a versatile, long defender who once keyed zone looks for the Heat defensively. He averaged 5.0 PPG on 50% FG (33.8% 3PT) in limited minutes with the Bulls. Dallas will face the Suns on Christmas in Phoenix. 

Denver: Hosting opening night against the Lakers in a west finals rematch where Nikola Jokic and Denver will receive their rings. The Nuggets will also host a Christmas game against the Warriors. Jamal Murray's status remains uncertain for the World Cup after he sat out the team's first exhibition loss to Germany. Canada hopes he can resume play next week when the team travels to Spain for more scrimmages ahead of its Aug. 25 opener in Indonesia. Jokic, sitting out the World Cup as part of Team Serbia, is in his home country preparing for a horse race that Aaron Gordon will attend. 

Detroit: Cade Cunningham emerged as arguably the best player at Team USA scrimmages in training camp before the FIBA team defeated Puerto Rico and departed for Spain. Cunningham played with the Select Team, opting to focus on entering 2023-24 healthy after shin surgery early last season. Jalen Duren, the team's likely starting center according to Pistons.com, joined Cunningham and the pair connected on numerous alley-oops. Cunningham will likely be the team's only shoo-in starter though, with Isaiah Stewart only a decent bet to start at the four, Bojan Bogdanovic in play to stretch the floor and four guards, including top picks Jaden Ivey and Ausar Thompson in play to man the back court next to Cunningham for Monty Williams. Isaiah Livers remains a popular forward in Detroit as well. 

Golden State: Will visit the Nuggets on Christmas and play on opening night against the new-look Suns at home, one of Kevin Durant's first games back in Golden State since departing following the 2019 Finals. Durant's last and only visit with the Nets happened in February, 2021, when he scored 20 points, passed six assists and blocked two shots in a 17-point win. He missed the following two trips west with injuries. Steve Kerr's son Nick will coach the Santa Cruz Warriors, former GM Bob Myers is closing in on a deal to join ESPN and current GM Mike Dunleavy Jr. explained the Jordan Poole trade. Golden State also signed seven-footer Jayce Johnson from Santa Cruz, who led the G-League in rebounding last season. 

“Honestly, in a lot of ways, it was an easy move because I felt it would make our team better, and it gave us a decent amount of flexibility going forward, so to me it wasn't that tough,” Dunleavy told NBC Sports Bay Area. “To have an opportunity to address some needs and clear up some financial relief, for me, honestly, didn't lose much sleep over that one.”

Houston: Jalen Green (USA), Alperen Şengün (Turkey) and Jock Landale (Australia) will represent the Rockets in this month's World Cup, something GM Rafael Stone embraced ahead of what the team hopes will be a step forward this season. Grant Hill praised Green's training camp and Stone saw the tournament as a way for all players involved to improve. Şengün flashed his jump shot, previously absent as a 27.6% three-point shooter through two seasons, in a 24-point performance against Poland where he tallied eight rebounds, eight assists and hit a corner three. Şengün's defense must improve to play under Ime Udoka, and if he makes strides in that area too this summer, he'll become one of my 5-10 must-watch players next season. 

Indiana: Myles Turner spoke about adding Bruce Brown at his children's camp this week and alluded to the team taking on a championship mindset around an incoming teammate who just won the Finals. Turner praised the team's athleticism and stressed defense after he and the team made major offensive strides in Tyrese Haliburton's first full season with the Pacers. Now, with a talented group of rookies, trading for Obi Toppin and benefiting from Brown's playoff experience, a healthier Indiana group can start to dream of winning it all. I'd lean toward it coming in a few more years, but remember that the Pacers ranked No. 6 in the east standings when Haliburton went down with injuries midway through last season. 

"We definitely got bigger. We added a championship mindset in Bruce Brown," Turner said. "I love what we've done." 

Clippers: Robert Covington spoke to The Athletic before his second full season with the Clippers begins to assess the beginning and future of his career in LA after uneven playing time under Ty Lue last year. Covington signed a two-year extension to stay with the team in 2022, and now remains in a crowded forward logjam with Marcus Morris, who was nearly traded for Malcolm Brogdon, the team's two stars and Nic Batum. KJ Martin joins that group, along with some younger players like Kobe Brown, and Covington still hasn't spoken with Lue about his role next year as James Harden trade rumors linger late into the summer. 

"If it do, it do. If it don’t, I won’t dwell on it. I focus on control, what I control, and I go out and do my job," Covington said. "Whatever happens, happens. I haven’t talked to T (Lue) since the season ended."

Lakers: Will host the Celtics on Christmas and visit the Nuggets on opening night, Shams Charania also revealing the first potential Kevin Durant and LeBron James meeting for Suns-Lakers in LA on Oct. 26. The Clippers and Lakers will face off for the first time on Nov. 1. Austin Reaves began his journey with Team USA by scoring nine points off the bench against Puerto Rico in 19 minutes during the team's first scrimmage. He shot 4-for-9 with four assists. While Reaves recently spoke about LA's special win over the Grizzlies in the playoffs, former Laker Dennis Schröder went at Dillon Brooks again on the court in Germany during a win against Brooks' Canadian team. 

Memphis: Jayson Tatum reacted to the Marcus Smart trade for the first time speaking with the Commercial Appeal about his golf experience with John Rahm at the FedEx St. Jude Championship pro-am in Memphis. Tatum praised Smart and previewed what he'll bring to the Grizzlies. Tatum played for an AAU team in Memphis as a 12-year-old. 

"The fans are gonna love (Smart) and the city's gonna love him. Sad to see him go, but happy for him to get a new start and excited to see what he does," Tatum said. "They're getting a leader, they're getting a guy that's a winner. He's been to the playoffs every year, we've been to the Finals obviously, so he knows what it takes to get there...best defender in the league. Just a guy you'd love to have on your team."

Miami: Will face the Celtics on Oct. 27 in Boston and potentially bring Justin Champagnie with them after the Heat signed the forward whom the Celtics waived last week as part of a string of training camp deals. Miami reached the offseason limit of 21 players, bringing in Alondes Williams, Caleb Daniels, Drew Peterson and Cole Swider, along with re-signing Jamal Cain to a two-way contract. Dru Smith and Jamaree Bouyea filled the team's other pair of two-way slots as the Heat begin their search for unsung talent to replace Gabe Vincent and Max Strus, who left in free agency. Miami has 13 players signed to standard contracts for the regular season. 

Milwaukee: Giannis Antetokounmpo (knee) officially backed out of Team Greece's run in the World Cup, which begins in the same group as the US later this month, after the Bucks star underwent surgery earlier this offseason. Antetokounmpo will target the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics, announcing online his intention to focus on entering this upcoming NBA season healthy. His brother Thanasis Antetokounmpo will help lead Greece in his place. The Bucks will open the season hosting the 76ers on Oct. 26 before playing the Knicks in New York on Christmas. 

"Everyone knows my passion and love for my National Team has and never will change. Since the conclusion of my NBA season I have been pushing my body to the limits to be the player I need to be to help our team achieve the goals we set," he said. "But after months of work and multiple meetings with medical staff it is clear that I am not ready to compete in the level that I need to be to participate in the World Cup. This was not a choice but my only option in ensuring I get back to the level of basketball I have worked so hard to achieve so far in my career. I am extremely disappointed in this outcome but this was a decision made with the medical staff. I'm going to continue to push myself to be ready for the next time my name is called."

Minnesota: Step one for Anthony Edwards' important offseason in his leap toward superstardom, leading the USA to a blowout win over Puerto Rico with 12 points, four assists, four steals and a block while shooting 7-for-13. Step two, paying a $50,000 fine to put his chair-shoving incident in Denver behind him during the Wolves' first-round series loss to the Nuggets. A folding chair struck two bystanders as Edwards stormed off the court, sparking a criminal investigation in Colorado later dismissed. The NBA found that Edwards recklessly swung the chair in frustration. Edwards and Team USA face Luka Dončić and Slovenia in Spain for a scrimmage on Saturday at 3:30 EST. 

New Orleans: Brandon Ingram will also star for Team USA later this month, and looked back at this last Pelicans season, offseason trade rumors that included himself and Zion Williamson, along with their outlook after remaining in New Orleans. Ingram joins the US as the national team's elder statesman on a relatively young roster, and could be called upon as their go-to player against sturdy competition. The US did not medal in the 2019 cup.

"Unfortunately, we had a few injuries last year that you couldn’t do much to avoid," he told The Athletic. "You can protect yourself, but you can’t stop injuries. You can prepare yourself in the summer. I’ve been trying to strengthen everything and build up my core. I feel stronger now when I’m moving around on the floor. You can’t stop certain things from happening, but I am paying more attention to the things I’m putting in my body (or) recovery time. (I’m asking myself), what am I doing to help my injuries? Whether it’s sleep or whatever else, I’m trying to make sure I stay on top of all of that."

New York: Jalen Brunson also spoke to The Athletic during Team USA as a likely starter next to Ingram, Edwards, Makil Bridges and Jaren Jackson Jr. when the tournament begins later this month. Steve Kerr emphasized having Brunson as a physical guard for the FIBA style of play, and while discussing the Knicks' future, he didn't shy away completely from talking about Donovan Mitchell joining him in the New York backcourt in the future. 

"It’s impossible not to see things — rumors and all the stuff that comes up on Twitter and all that stuff every single day is always on TV,” Brunson said. “There’s always possibilities when you hear about that stuff. Donovan is a good friend of mine for a while. We were in the same high school class, our relationship goes back a long way. I think right now, I’m more than happy with my guys, and I love my teammates.”

Orlando: The NBA will announce the in-season tournament schedule next week before the unveiling of the full slate for 2023-24. Group play for the December tournament begins in November, taking place as part of the league's normal schedule on Tuesdays and Thursdays, when teams in the same group face off on their home courts. The Magic share a group with the Celtics, Nets, Raptors and Bulls. The best team from each group advances, along with a wild card from each conference who'll play the quarterfinals in home cities on Dec. 4-5, with the semifinals and finals on Dec. 7 and 9 in Las Vegas. The winner of the tournament will distribute a cash prize throughout its roster. 

Philadelphia: Will visit the Heat on Christmas and take on the Bucks to begin their season on Oct. 26. The 76ers will continue engaging teams on James Harden trades as they work to fulfill his trade requests, per The Athletic. ESPN reported that Joel Embiid remains engaged in those conversations, and hopes to help the 76ers in any way, whether by convincing Harden to stay or uplifting the team in place after Harden's departure. 

"His mentality is that he is going to give everything he has to the Sixers this year," Ramona Shelburne said on NBA Today. "That includes putting his arm around James Harden, that includes trying to lift Tyrese Maxey up, that includes inviting all of those guys to his wedding."

Phoenix: Will visit the Warriors on opening night for the first game with Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal playing together as the league's most star-studded big three. They'll host the Mavericks on Christmas. 

San Antonio: Gregg Popovich will enter the Basketball Hall of Fame as the five-time NBA championship coach of the Spurs over 26 seasons. He spoke in Springfield, Massachusetts ahead of the ceremony, where he'll enter alongside fellow inductees that include Mavericks legend Dirk Nowitzki and Heat icon Dwyane Wade, two of his top playoff adversaries from the Spurs' golden years. As he hopes to begin another building around Victor Wembanyama, a report indicated he'll make his NBA debut on Oct. 25 against the Mavs. A reporter asked Popovich what brings him back for year 27. 

"Money," Popovich joked. "Money, money, money." 

Toronto: After reportedly declining Atlanta's overture for Pascal Siakam and failing to trade OG Anunoby, president Masai Ujiri will enter the season continuing to ask for high prices for both players despite them entering their contract years. Another team offered multiple first round picks for Anunoby, Shams Charania noted, after the Grizzlies did the same previously. Dennis Schröder, preparing for his first year as the team's point guard, might miss the World Cup for Germany with an Achilles ailment.