Brad Stevens: Celtics want to keep Derrick White after Jrue Holiday extension

BOSTON — Brad Stevens spoke for the first time since the Celtics signed Jrue Holiday to a contract extension on Tuesday, holding an impromptu press conference five days from the NBA Playoffs.

Ahead of a critical moment for the franchise, he praised the job Joe Mazzulla did this year, explained why Boston acted now to retain Holiday long-term and expressed optimism toward keeping his back court mate Derrick White in green.

“I can’t talk about much with things that we’re not allowed to discuss until July 1,” Stevens said. “But Derrick has had an amazing year. Derrick is a huge, huge part of our team and we want him around for as long as we can keep him around.”

The Celtics and Holiday agreed to a four-year, $135 million extension earlier this month after the guard became eligible for a new deal on Apr. 1. White and Boston can’t negotiate until the summer, when he’ll become open to a new deal through the end of his current one, which expires at the end of the 2024-25 season.

That two-year window limited the urgency to close on a contract last summer, and CBA limitations (allowing him to sign for roughly 4yr, $120M) could hinder efforts to lock up White this summer. Considering Stevens and White’s comments over the past year, motivation seems to exist on both sides to keep him around.

First, this group will have to affirm its ability to win, the Holiday extension in part an effort to extend the team’s window in the near future. A combination of repeater tax and second apron penalties will make it difficult to keep the Celtics together annually beginning in 2025-26, when Jayson Tatum will inevitably begin a super max extension with Boston.

That raised questions about White’s future with the team. Stevens considered the Holiday move a bridge between Holiday’s two-way impact he provides and the mentorship he’ll continue to give the team’s younger players like Jordan Walsh. The front end of the deal could also aid in keeping the team’s starters together.

“Jrue came here, joined our team and all he tried to do is add to win. For a guy who is as accomplished as he is, that is as used to more usage, more reps, more touches,” Stevens said. “All that came into play was what kind of a teammate am I being and can I help us win? … also the fact that he can play off the ball and be as effective as he’s been, I just think it shows another layer of what a guy…