Derrick White will only be traded by the Boston Celtics if he is used as the main trade chip for a ‘bigger fish’ according to MassLive’s Brian Robb.
In his latest Boston Celtics Mailbag, Robb admitted that White ‘could eventually be viewed as a luxury from a financial standpoint,’ but also conceded that in the interim, ‘they will like having the extra depth in the backcourt to see what it all looks like together.’
A reader had submitted a question to the Mailbag asking about moving White to possibly get another athletic wing–referencing Jae Crowder and Marcus Morris Sr. –or someone like John Collins to be a long-term Al Horford replacement at the power forward spot.
Robb believes that the variety of guards now in the backcourt will be beneficial for the long-term health of the Cs, who was heavily leaning on Jaylen Brown and Marcus Smart throughout the postseason.
Some ‘bigger fish’ the Boston Celtics could pursue in a trade using Derrick White’s salary
Derrick White is, on an island, a decent trade asset. The Boston Celtics gave up a first-round pick to acquire him from the San Antonio Spurs, so at minimum, he should be able to net a late-first round pick in return.
The Cs are not going to deal White away to a fellow contender, though. The combo guard isn’t going to be moved unless he is part of something bigger that lands Boston’s starting lineup an offensive-minded third wheel for the ‘Jays.’
Who qualifies? Well, at the moment, someone like Donovan Mitchell would be an ideal fourth playmaker in a Celtics lineup with Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, and Marcus Smart. Unfortunately, the Utah Jazz would most certainly need Brown in return in any deal, plus an absurd amount of future first-rounders that Boston Celtics President of Basketball Operations Brad Stevens would probably snub his nose at.
John Collins is likely a more realistic target since the Atlanta Hawks could probably do well to replenish their draft cupboard after emptying it to land Dejounte Murray. Ditto for the Minnesota Timberwolves if they wanted to cash in on the expiring contract of D’Angelo Russell after the Rudy Gobert trade.