How Jayson Tatum, Derrick White extensions impact Celtic’s salary cap

The Celtics are here to stay! Fresh off their 2024 NBA championship win, Boston made moves to secure their future on Monday. GM Brad Stevens didn’t waste a second, extending contracts for star forward Jayson Tatum and guard Derrick White, ensuring their pivotal roles in the team’s success.

Tatum, fresh from a stellar season, put up impressive numbers: 26.9 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 4.9 assists per game, shooting 47.1% from the field in the regular season. His playoff performance was equally dazzling, averaging 22.2 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 7.2 assists on the way to the title.

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Meanwhile, White proved his mettle as a defensive stalwart, earning NBA All-Defensive Second Team honors for the second consecutive year. His regular season stats of 15.2 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 5.2 assists per game, with a shooting accuracy of 46.1%, were crucial. In the postseason, White maintained his impact with 16.7 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 4.1 assists per game.

With Tatum and White locked in, the Celtics’ starting lineup is set through the 2025-26 season, cementing their status as contenders for years to come. Boston fans, get ready for more championship dreams!

 

Celtics salary cap space

Looking ahead to the future, the Celtics have secured a formidable starting lineup for the 2025-26 season with Tatum, White, Brown, Holiday, and Porzingis all locked in. However, these contracts won’t impact Boston’s salary cap until after the upcoming season, keeping their financial flexibility intact for now.

The combined salaries of these five stars will approach nearly $200 million, leaving minimal room under the cap for additional moves. Outside of this core group, only Pritchard, Queta, and Walsh have contracts for next season, highlighting the Celtics’ tight financial situation.

Despite these constraints, Boston boasts arguably the deepest starting five in the league, a fact underscored by their recent NBA championship triumph in 2024. As they navigate salary cap challenges, the Celtics are poised to maintain their competitive edge with a roster built for sustained success.

 

Boston Celtics payroll

As previously noted, the new deals for White and Tatum won’t shake up the NBA salary scene just yet. These extensions won’t hit the court until the 2025-26 season rolls around, since both players are still on their current contracts’ final lap.

Now, let’s break down the bucks for each Celtics player in 2024:

Player Cap hit
Jaylen Brown $49,205,800
Jayson Tatum $34,848,340
Jrue Holiday $30,000,000
Kristaps Porzingis $29,268,293
Derrick White $18,821,429
Al Horford $9,500,000
Payton Pritchard $6,696,429
Jaden Springer $4,018,363
Neemias Queta $2,162,606
Luke Kornet $2,092,344
Sam Hauser $2,800,834
Jordan Walsh $1,891,857
Total $191,842,980

 

Come next season, the Celtics’ payroll picture will shift gears. Currently, Jaylen Brown commands the top spot in terms of salary, but in 2025-26, Jayson Tatum will snag the title of highest-paid player on the roster. Meanwhile, Derrick White will maintain his position with the fifth-highest cap hit for that season, ensuring stability in the team’s financial lineup.

Player Cap hit
Jayson Tatum $54,126,450
Jaylen Brown $53,142,264
Jrue Holiday $32,400,000
Kristaps Porzingis $30,731,707
Derrick White $28,100,001
Payton Pritchard $7,232,143
Neemias Queta $2,349,578
Ricky Council IV $2,221,677
Total $210,303,820

 

Jayson Tatum contract details

(all figures via Spotrac):
Season Age Salary
2024-25 26 $34,848,340
2025-26 27 $54,126,380
2026-27 28 $58,456,490
2027-28 29 $62,786,601
2028-29 30 $67,116,711
2029-30 31 $71,446,822

 

Derrick White contract details

(all figures via Spotrac)
Season Age Salary
2024-25 30 $20,071,429
2025-26 31 $28,100,001
2026-27 32 $30,348,001
2027-28 33 $32,596,001
2028-29 34 $34,844,001