Former Boston Celtics guard lands with Cavaliers in B/R trade proposal

Boston Celtics President of Basketball Operations Brad Stevens has been so aggressive in trying to configure a championship roster that oftentimes players have walked in and subsequently out the door in Abe Simpson-like fashion.

On several occasions, we have seen Stevens acquire a player through trade only to subsequently move them as soon as an opportunity arises. There’s nothing wrong with that, it’s just the nature of today’s fast-paced NBA transaction cycle.

Take Daniel Theis. After Stevens’ predecessor Danny Ainge dealt him at the 2021 NBA trade deadline, Brad was able to bring him back less than a year later at this past February’s trade deadline. Despite starting postseason games in the early going when Robert Williams went down with an injury, the German big man was already on his way to Indianapolis on the first day of free agency in July when the opportunity to trade for Malcolm Brogdon arose.

Another example is Josh Richardson. Acquired by Stevens within his first few months in charge of the front office, Stevens was able to find an upgrade in the form of Derrick White this past February. Richardson, despite suiting up just 44 times in a Boston Celtics uniform, was made a trade chip by the aggressive Stevens when the chance presented itself.

Well, the San Antonio Spurs, the team who landed Richardson, is in the midst of a rebuild and should be in the hunt for 2023 top prospect Victor Wembanyama — a potential generational talent out of France. Bleacher Report’s Greg Swartz acted accordingly in projecting the next NBA trade to go down, having the Spurs ship Richardson off to the Cleveland Cavaliers for a pair of wings and a future second-round pick:

"Cleveland Cavaliers Receive: G/F Josh RichardsonSan Antonio Spurs Receive: F Cedi Osman, F Dylan Windler, 2025 second-round pick"

The Boston Celtics could use Derrick White as a trade chip for a ‘bigger fish’

On the topic of players being traded not too long after Boston Celtics President of Basketball Operations Brad Stevens acquires them, there’s the possibility Derrick White could be the next in what is becoming a fairly long line of them.

White has been mentioned as someone that can be traded in a deal for a ‘bigger fish,’ which at the time meant someone like a Kevin Durant or Donovan Mitchell but is now somewhat unclear given the market shift.

Stevens can be seen as an aggressive executive just trying to bring Banner 18 to Boston, but if he starts trading players he himself signed in free agency, there could be trust issues for players considering the Celtics but scared of the possibility of being in Beantown for a short stay.