The 18-time NBA champion Boston Celtics are entering the 2025-26 season in unfamiliar territory after a long time. For the first time since 2017, Jayson Tatum will not be one of their main starters following a major Achilles tendon injury. Then, a major roster shakeup, including departures of Jrue Holiday, Kristaps Porzingis, and Al Horford, has forced heavy restructuring. And amid all of these, Derrick White is getting much of the attention, besides Jaylen Brown. But what will be White’s role under head coach Joe Mazzulla?

White, Boston’s fourth leading scorer, will have to step up, replacing Brown as the secondary on this roster. Analyst Sherrod Blakely voiced caution: “See, I’m not as sold on this as I wish I was because Derrick White is a good player… But when you’re talking about being that number two, it’s a much, much different ball of wax. Because basically you’re gonna have to be one of the top three, four players on the floor every single night.”

So far, White has played an important role for the Celtics, but with key pieces out, his game has to take a step up. Last season, he hit 16.4 points per game, starting 76 games out of 82 in the regular season, reflecting on his fitness. Not just that, he has averaged 33.9 minutes while having 44.2 FG%. The 31-year-old player has also contributed on both ends despite his strengths on the defensive end. He has 4.5 rebounds and 4.8 assists while having 1.1 blocks under his name. But this won’t cut deep playoffs.

Then, stepping into a secondary role behind Jaylen Brown will require a lot from Derrick White, and his potential to do so is still under the microscope. Blakely also highlighted, “You look at Jaylen Brown… I think it’s fair to say that, has been that guy. I don’t know if Derrick White is going to be able to do that one because I don’t know if Derrick White’s game is built to do that.”

While White is undeniably talented, Blakely highlighted the nuances of the role and why White can be a decent option, “Derek is a great defender… Not a great scorer, a good scorer. Does a lot of things that you want out… from one of your starting five.” Beyond the scoring, White will have to fill a more intangible role, too. Blakely questioned whether his leadership would match his additions to the team to the same extent as his production on the court:

“Can he make sure that other guys are more involved and engaged, with the offense, and maybe can he be the glue guy of sorts defensively?” Next, he made it clear that the stakes are high. “I’m not totally convinced that he’s going to rise to the level that they’re going to need him to in order for them to enjoy similar success, or at least success along that same path.” While the caution seems hard, it is all for the Celtics to note and put their man in the right place and help.

HC Mazzulla hints at probable line-up as Celtics undergo major revamp

Not just Blakely, but HC Mazzulla has also indicated that there’s going to be a reshaped lineup. With three new starter spots, Mazzulla has stated that he’s looking at sharpshooting forward Sam Hauser to plug in with the starters. “He’s a great two-way player… makes people around him better, with or without the ball,” Mazzulla said, highlighting Hauser’s versatility and efficiency.

This provides the Celtics with multiple options: a backcourt filled by Brown and last year’s Sixth Man of the Year Payton Pritchard, long-range sniper Anfernee Simons, and a center of rotation comprised entirely of new additions. Then there’s Portuguese center Neemias Queta.

Queta is likely to start, which leaves the team with a non-spacing big, something that has previously been their bread and butter through the deployment of Porzingis and Horford. With a younger and more athletic team, the team might prioritize mismatches and space the floor with White, Pritchard, and Hauser around Brown and Queta.

White’s adaptability in this system as the second-best player will be a key factor in determining the effectiveness of Boston’s offense. White’s performance, with Tatum sidelined and the roster shakeup taking place, is going to shape the Celtics’ trajectory. As Blakely put it, “His play, I think more so than Jaylen’s, I think is going to impact how far this team goes this season.” Now, how does the team settle with the new core? Only time will tell.