The Golden State Warriors’ search for one last championship run with Stephen Curry has unexpectedly placed Boston Celtics guard Derrick White at the center of trade speculation — but in Boston, there’s growing belief that White’s best days are still ahead in green and white.
Ideal Trade Target for Warriors
In a recent Bleacher Report column, Greg Swartz named White as the ideal trade target for Golden State, calling him “the perfect backcourt partner for a 38-year-old Stephen Curry who probably isn’t going to be giving All-Defensive efforts on a nightly basis.”
“At 31, Derrick White isn’t exactly young anymore,” Swartz wrote, “but he would look like a spring chicken alongside Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler, Draymond Green and Al Horford on these Golden State Warriors.”
Swartz praised White’s ability to defend multiple positions, describing him as “perhaps the best shot-blocking guard we’ve seen since Dwyane Wade.” He argued that White’s defensive instincts, basketball IQ, and championship experience would make him an ideal fit for a Warriors team still chasing one last title.
Boston’s Reluctance to Trade White
Getty Derrick White of the Boston Celtics talks with Jaylen Brown during the second quarter of the game against the Chicago Bulls.
Despite the chatter, Boston has shown no indication of shopping White. NBA insider Jake Fischer reported that the Celtics would only consider moving him in a blockbuster package “comparable to the deal New York gave up for Mikal Bridges,” which included five first-round picks.
In July, Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints added that multiple teams offered two first-round picks and a swap for White, and Boston declined.
After offseason trade rumors linked both White and Jaylen Brown, Celtics vice president of basketball operations Mike Zarren dismissed the speculation.
“Those two guys are really, really great NBA players, and there hasn’t been anything close to serious about trading them,” Zarren told reporters. “Those guys are key parts of our team, and we’re lucky to have them here.”
A Larger Role for White in Boston
With Jayson Tatum sidelined by an Achilles injury and Horford, Kristaps Porziņģis and Jrue Holiday. He is averaging 20.0 points per game, though his shooting percentages have dipped to 31.6% from the field and 29.2% from three-point range — well below last season’s marks of 44.2% and 38.4%.
Even with the heavier workload, Boston’s front office views White as one of the NBA’s most valuable two-way guards — a player capable of adapting to whatever the team needs.
Richard White on His Son’s Rise
During a recent interview with Bobby Manning of The Garden Report, Richard White, Derrick’s father, said he believes his son can evolve into one of the Eastern Conference’s next breakout stars.
“There’s a lot of superstars now in the league right now that in the beginning they weren’t that,” Richard White said. “I mean (Jalen) Brunson was stuck behind Luka (Dončić) in Dallas and no one thought Brunson would be that way. But if you give him the opportunity and the ability to do with a whole lot, then that’s what you get.
“Whatever it takes not to lose is what he’s willing to do. So if that means he has to increase his scoring, he’ll do that… So the ball will probably be in his hands more. But if it leads to a shot, that’s because he’s open. If it leads to a pass, or setting the screen, or doing anything else like that, that’s what it takes.”
Boston Focused on Continuity
As speculation swirls, the Celtics remain focused on defending their 2024 NBA Championship and building around the core of Brown, White, and Tatum.
White’s defensive versatility and leadership are viewed internally as irreplaceable, especially after the offseason roster changes. With Boston integrating new pieces under head coach Joe Mazzulla, the team appears committed to keeping its All-Defensive guard exactly where he is — right at the heart of the Celtics’ bid to remain competitive without Tatum.
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