For the last two seasons, they've been above the NBA's second tax apron, and being above for a third will lead to more frozen draft assets. The Celtics may trade Jrue Holiday or Derrick White to get under it this offseason, as both are on expensive, long-term contracts.

"It sucks," he said. "(We are) never going to get this season back, never going to have the exact same team again."

The Boston Celtics gave no shortage of sad quotes after they were eliminated from the NBA playoffs in a blowout Game 6 loss, but it was Derrick White's assessment of the exit that was perhaps the most devastating of them all.