Derrick White has done nothing but cover himself in glory since being traded to the Celtics in 2022. He has blossomed into an NBA Champion, an Olympic Gold Medalist, an analytical darling, and one of the best defenders in the world. He’s so integral to everything the Celtics do on both sides of the ball, and yet, there are going to be some uncomfortable conversations around him in Boston this offseason.
It was a great all-around season for White, but his offense wasn’t able to scale up without Jayson Tatum, and it fell off a cliff in the playoffs. This is the second straight season where he has dipped a little bit, and set to enter his age-32 season, it’s fair to wonder if White’s best days are behind him.
He’s still an incredibly valuable player, and will surely be named to an All-Defense team in the coming weeks, but the Celtics clearly need more on offense from their third-best player and a guy making $30+ million each of the next three seasons (2028-29 is a player option). It’s a scary thought for Celtics Nation, but the idea of selling high on D-White is not a crazy one.
Celtics should only trade White for a clear upgrade
To be clear, the Celtics shouldn’t be shopping White, and his returning next season feels like the most likely outcome, and one that would be perfectly suitable. But if there’s a real chance to go out and land another superstar this offseason, and adding White into the deal is the difference-maker, Brad Stevens and company should be open to that.
White should still have plenty of trade value around the league, and there would certainly be teams that view him as a missing piece that could put them over the edge, much like he did in Boston. That creates a potential opportunity for the Cs to maximize his value before we see a real decline.Â
If they get blown away by a package of picks, young players, or a true star like Giannis Antetokounmpo, they may have to strike while the iron’s hot, as the shelf life on a deal like that for White won’t last much longer.
It’s hard to believe it’s true, but the best path to improving the roster may actually be parting ways with White. It would certainly be a tough pill to swallow, but if it’s best for the team, Brad will do it. It should only be a last resort, and nobody should be upset if he’s starting in green on opening night. But the chances he’s elsewhere next season certainly seem in play much more than ever before.
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