It would be a swap of arguably the two best role players in the NBA. A deal sending Colorado native Derrick White to his home state in exchange for Aaron Gordon. However, it's not a proposal the Boston Celtics should accept.
The underlying reason is the same one that could dissuade the Celtics from trading for Giannis Antetokounmpo. The concerns surrounding Gordon's durability are too steep. He only appeared in 36 games last season. Despite a valiant effort to suit up in the playoffs, he was only available for three of the six tilts in the Denver Nuggets' first-round loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves.
When he's in the lineup, the veteran power forward elevates his team at both ends of the floor. He can anchor the defense and take on challenges like guarding Victor Wembanyama. Gordon held firm in that matchup in a late-season victory vs. the San Antonio Spurs.
At the other end of the floor, the former fourth-overall draft pick partners with Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray to give Denver a dynamic trio that puts the opposition in a bind. Gordon knocked down 43.5 percent of the 1.3 corner triples he hoisted. Whether stationed there or in the dunker spot, if his assignment helps off of him to protect the rim, he's a lethal lob threat.
Why the Celtics should not trade Derrick White for Aaron Gordon
Brad Stevens said the team he oversees as president of basketball operations needs to have a greater impact at the rim in the postseason. The same goes for it being less of a grind to generate higher-quality looks. Gordon's arrival could help accomplish those goals. If he were more durable, the outlook for a player who's now in his 30s could be different, but that's not the case.
The 12-year veteran, who turns 31 in September, has three years and $103.6 million left on his contract. That includes a $37.1 million player option for the 2028-29 campaign, his age-33 season.
White's deal also has three years left, including a player option for 2028-29. The reason to opt against this potential trade isn't that his deal is slightly less expensive. It's because he's more dependable.
In a year where Gordon again struggled to stay on the floor, White earned a spot on the NBA's All-Defensive First Team. He appeared in 77 contests. He hasn't played in fewer than 73 since 2020-21.
The Celtics' guard is the best rim protector at his position. When given the freedom to roam, he's among the best at keeping a lid on the cylinder. He finished this season third in defensive win shares. He also registered 98 blocks and 88 steals. The last player to do so for Boston was Kevin Garnett in 2007-08. He won the Defensive Player of the Year award that season.
White didn't shoot the ball well this year, but that was an outlier. He knocked down over 38 percent of his three-point attempts in the previous three campaigns. He also averaged 5.4 assists, only 1.7 turnovers, while shouldering more ball-handling duties, and 1.1 offensive rebounds. There's no telling what next season holds for him from beyond the arc, but it should be a bounce-back year for him in that regard.
White's a year older than Gordon, but he's more dependable and still regularly living up to the billing of an elite role player. The Celtics shouldn't trade that for someone who's now subject to concern about how often they can match that.
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