No rumors have dominated conversations in the Boston Celtics community, the basketball world, really, like those surrounding Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo. An under the radar storyline that still looms large is the aftermath.
If the Celtics actually land Giannis, then what? Are they going to reshape the rest of their roster? Will they stick to the same core?
It’s all yet to be seen.
In the case that they do look for a shake up, the Celtics would almost certainly have a suitor for Derrick White. The Athletic’s Jon Krawczynski reports that the Minnesota Timberwolves not only have interest in White, but have been “aggressive” in pursuing him lately.
“Minnesota has been most aggressive in pursuing White, the Celtics’ defensive mastermind who has the experience and the savvy to help Edwards and the Wolves break through in the West,” Krawczynski wrote. “White turns 32 next month and saw his 3-point shooting percentage drop considerably this season, but so far the Celtics have rebuffed the Wolves’ advances.”
What could Minnesota offer the Celtics for Derrick White?
Now, to be clear, this doesn’t mean Boston is shopping White. It doesn’t mean that they’ve even entertained the idea of trading him to Minnesota. On paper, it makes sense for the Cs to keep the All-Defensive guard to help them compete if Giannis comes on board.
The Wolves don’t even have assets that jump off the page. Julius Randle and Rudy Gobert are the only players (multiple reports have indicated that Minnesota isn’t trading Jaden McDaniels unless it’s for Nikola Jokic or Antetokounmpo) who make comparable money to White.
Neither player would help Boston make up for what they’d be losing by trading him away. Gobert is a stout defender, but he’s not getting any younger and doesn’t do much to elevate things offensively.
We do know that the Cs checked in on Gobert at February’s trade deadline, per Jake Fischer, but they probably weren’t offering White. Remember, they still had Anferenee Simons’ $27 million contract to use to help make the financials work.
Randle… no thanks.
The only way the Celtics should even consider doing business with Minny here, is if they’re able to swipe some draft picks. Even then, with the notion that they’d be going all-in on a few seasons of Giannis, it’d be counterproductive to do so.
Anyway, the Timberwolves have the 28th overall pick in Tuesday’s NBA Draft, no first-rounder next year, then a 2028 first, top-five protected 2029 first, and then first-rounders in the years beyond.
If they’re as interested in White as it seems, maybe Boston could get them to send some of those picks over.
On a scale from 1-10, the likelihood that the Celtics would deal White to the Wolves is probably around a 2. It simply doesn’t make sense if they’re in a “win now” mindset.
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