There has been lots of chatter about how the Celtics can improve their roster this summer, and Derrick White has become a mainstay in the trade machine for social media users. Jaylen Brown is the big name who could get moved for a superstar or a haul of players and draft picks, but beyond breaking up the Jays, White is the only player set to make more than $10.8 million next season.
White’s $30.34 million salary for next season is the only obvious tradeable piece outside of Brown and Tatum, and he should be able to return solid value on the market, as he’s still an elite role player coming off a first-team All-Defense season.
White's contract is still a great value
And that’s exactly the thing. White is still an outstanding player, and his contract is still an excellent value. He had a rough shooting year and came up small offensively in the playoffs against the 76ers, but he has a long history of anchoring an elite defense, being a secondary playmaker, and coming through in the biggest moments.
Could the Cs look to flip White and bring back players who fill needs? Sure. They could target a big man or a scoring guard, and those players may help the team. But nobody available in a trade with a comparable salary can make the overall impact that White can.
And that’s not even factoring in his fit with the Jays and his proven ability to play in the pressure cooker that is Boston. Trading White to attack another area of need is just going to open up bigger holes in other places. The Celtics are so reliant on D-White for his defense and all the little things and intangibles he brings to the table.
Trading White would create more problems than solutions
That’s not going to be replaceable by guys like Aaron Gordon, Julius Randle, Naz Reid, Dejounte Murray, Jarrett Allen, or any of the other players in that price range. Any players making less than that are either on rookie deals or won’t be traded. And that’s because their teams know what they have.
The same is true of the Celtics, and that’s why the best move is not trading Derrick at all. Unless Brad Stevens knows something we don’t, or there’s an opportunity to package White with other players and assets for a superstar, there’s really no reason to even consider trading him.Â
It’s always good to test the market and gauge the value, but I’m pretty confident Stevens is going to come to the same conclusion. And that’s why my money is on Derrick White being back in Celtic green next season.
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