Should the Boston Celtics keep Derrick White?
Welcome back to the Deal or No Deal series where we break down if the Celtics should bring back a certain player for the 2025-26 NBA season. If a player is under “Deal” then the player should not be brought back. If “No Deal” then the player should be brought back.
The next player in this series is Derrick White. White had a career season this year averaging a career high 16.4 PPG, alongside 4.8 AST, 4.5 REB, on 44% shooting from the field, 38% shooting from three, and 84% from the free throw line.
White’s career year was highlighted by breaking the Celtics single season record for made threes but he was not recognized with any awards as he was snubbed for an all defensive team. With Jaylen Brown, Jrue Holiday, and Kristaps Porzingis missing extended periods of time with injury, White stepped up to be one of Boston’s most consistent and important players.
This might be the most obvious No Deal of all time but you never know what could happen in the offseason. With all of the rumors swirling around the Celtics roster, Shams Charania reported that Boston would prefer not to trade Derrick White this offseason.
However, this hasn’t stopped teams from calling about him and with Desmond Bane just getting traded to the Orlando Magic for 5 first round picks, Brad Stevens might listen to some of these offers more intently.
The Celtics’ offseason focus is trading Jrue Holiday, Kristaps Porzingis, and Sam Hauser, per @ShamsCharania on @PatMcAfeeShow
He said “they’re going to get offers on the three guys they’re focused on” and they “prefer not to trade” Jaylen Brown or Derrick White. pic.twitter.com/35U2oDNTpk
— SleeperCeltics (@SleeperCeltics) June 11, 2025
Building a Derrick White trade package is interesting because every team in the NBA would love to have a player like him but not every team has the salaries to match his $28 million contract.
The first team that comes to mind for a potential trade is the Minnesota Timberwolves. My idea for a trade involves Minnesota sending Jaden McDaniels, Terrance Shannon Jr, MIN 2025 First Round Pick (17th Overall), and MIN 2026 First Round Pick Swap.
The Timberwolves have said that Jaden McDaniels is an untouchable when it comes to a Kevin Durant trade but would they be willing to part ways with him for Derrick White? Probably not, but he is the only salary on the Timberwolves that would make this trade work. Shannon Jr is a good young player that Boston could like and two first round picks might be a lot but the Celtics could be asking for this kind of haul when it comes to a player of White’s caliber.
The next team I thought about when it came to a Derrick White trade is the Detroit Pistons. In this scenario Detroit would give up Isaiah Stewart, Jaden Ivey, DET 2026 First Round Pick and DET 2028 First Round Pick.
Ivey is a young guard coming off of injury but he has shown flashes of looking like a future star. Stewart is tough, big body center that will become an instant fan favorite in Boston and fill the big man position that the Celtics need. Boston would also save about $3 Million in salary with this trade and that could be something the Celtics are interested in.
The next trade proposal I have is with the Dallas Mavericks who are in the market for another guard. Dallas would give up Daniel Gafford, Caleb Martin, Oliver-Maxence Prosper, DAL 2026 First Round Pick, and LAL 2029 First Round Pick.
Gafford and Martin are great depth pieces in positions of need for the Celtics and Prosper is a nice young player that showed flashes of potential last year. The draft picks are once again the main prize in this deal as the Lakers 2029 Pick could be the best asset out of anything they acquire.
The final trade proposal I have is a deal with the Golden State Warriors. Golden State gives up Moses Moody, Buddy Hield, GSW 2028 First Round Pick, GSW 2029 First Round Pick Swap, and GSW 2030 First Round Pick.
Moody and Hield are depth pieces that are useful for the Celtics but it’s the three first round picks that are the main draw of this deal. Boston also saves $7.3 Million in this deal and with the Celtics cutting salary, this would be the most attractive deal.
Final Verdict: No Deal
Although White could fetch the biggest haul out of everyone on the team, I don’t see a world where the Celtics move him. Derrick White is maybe the most important player on this team outside of the Jays and I don’t think there is a deal out there right now that a team can make to get Brad Stevens to move him.
However, the NBA Offseason is a wild time and any team could be desperate enough to give up a kings ransom for White. The city of Boston would be outraged at even the thought of a trade happening so I think Brad Stevens will hold on to him and there could be a chance White puts up an all-star season in return.