Celtics have reportedly ‘rebuffed’ other teams’ attempts at trading for Derrick White
White is reportedly drawing trade interest from across the league.
As the Celtics look to rectify their luxury tax situation, there have been reports about other teams’ interest in trading for Derrick White.
The Celtics are roughly $20 million over the second apron threshold. White is one of five Celtics players scheduled to make north of $28 million next season.
According to HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto, White has been drawing trade interest from teams across the NBA. The Celtics have reportedly “rebuffed” previous inquiries about White.
White, who turns 31 next month, will make the least of the Celtics’ five starters next season at $28,100,000. He averaged a career-best 16.4 points last season and shot 38.4 percent from 3-point range.
He broke the Celtics’ single-season record for most 3-pointers (265). He has a reputation as one of the best “little man” shot-blockers in the game.
His clutch credentials are also legit, as he forced Game 7 of the 2023 Eastern conference finals with a last-second tip-in and hit the go-ahead 3-pointer that sealed the Celtics’ sweep against Indiana in the Eastern Conference Finals last season.
He has played at a borderline All-Star level over the past few seasons, and his contract seems like a relative bargain compared to his production.
The Ringer’s Logan Murdock reported that the Warriors were interested in trading for White.
“Another guy for the Warriors to look at going forward is Derrick White,” Murdock said. “I think that’s something the Warriors are looking at right now. That’s somebody who can play defense, can settle everyone down especially when you have a young group like that.”
NBA insider Marc Stein, who covered the league for ESPN and the New York Times before starting his own Substack newsletter, said the Celtics would be “more apt” to trade Jrue Holiday than White.
Holiday, who turns 35 later this month, is widely recognized as one of the best defenders in the NBA. However, he is older and pricier than White. Ideally, the Celtics would be able to keep them both together, but severe luxury tax implications are looming and the roster has been called unsustainable by numerous experts.
Yahoo! Sports’ Kevin O’Connor said the Celtics could get “massive” value by trading White or Jaylen Brown. They’d get the kind of offers “you gotta listen” to, O’Connor said, using the hypothetical example of a Mikal Bridges-style trade in which the Celtics would receive four first-round picks in exchange for White.
The Celtics are likely looking to get younger and cheaper. There’s a chance a White trade could net some significant assets. But so far, the Celtics seem to be resisting other teams’ attempts to land the versatile guard.
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