Everyone is understandably focused on potential star trades for the Celtics after their disappointing playoff collapse. Fans want to hear names like Giannis, KD, and Kawhi thrown around. And sure, those are all possible moves that the team could make this summer, but the trade that has sustained this recent run wasn’t a sexy one like that at all; it was the 2022 trade deadline acquisition of Derrick White.
D-White was a solid role player in San Antonio, but far from a star and not at all regarded as the elite defender and do-it-all team player he is now. White was a relative buy-low, wasting away on some bad Spurs teams, overburdened on offense and underused in general.
The Celtics were able to trade for White by giving up nothing more than Josh Richardson, Romeo Langford, their 2022 first-round pick (which ended up being 25th overall), and a 2028 pick swap. In retrospect, that was a minuscule price to pay for a player who became an integral piece of a championship team, a three-team All-Defense performer, and an Olympic gold medalist.
White has become regarded as one of the best role players or complementary stars in the league, and the value he has returned for what they traded for him and his contract has been instrumental in the team’s success since his arrival. And now, it’s time for Brad Stevens and company to go find the next Derrick White.
Celtics must look to find young, misused, breakout candidate
More than ever under the current CBA, it’s vital to have young(ish) valuable players who are outperforming their contracts. The Celtics have some great players on minimums and rookie deals who fit this mold, but with their various traded player exceptions, glut of young wings, and future picks, they have a real chance to buy-low on someone they think can become a borderline star, a la D-White.
If I knew who this player was, I’d have a job in the Celtics’ front office, but there are enough brilliant minds in that room that I trust they can hone in on the right player. A few guys who I think could pop in a better role and could be had via trade or sign-and-trade this summer include Trey Murphy III, Peyton Watson, Cason Wallace, and Naji Marshall.
All of those players are on more of a star track than White was and could take more to acquire, but those are the types of names they should be considering. Again, this is why Brad makes the big bucks while I write blogs. But the idea is there, and if Boston is able to target the right player and use the tools at their disposal to make the move, this could have far more impact than any other move the team could make this summer.
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