Celtics Reportedly Wanted 'Mikal Bridges-Type' Trade Package in Derrick White Talks

Any team interested in acquiring guard Derrick White from the Boston Celtics had to pay a steep price, according to NBA insider Jake Fischer.

Fischer reported Saturday the Celtics "told at least one rival team that it would have insisted on a 'Mikal Bridges-type' package to part with [White]." He added that Boston has "certainly received no shortage of inbound trade calls on both White and Jaylen Brown in recent days, but nothing got serious on either front."

The 2024 NBA champions have already finalized trades sending out guard Jrue Holiday and center Kristaps Porziņģis. Fischer's report reinforces the idea that president of basketball operations Brad Stevens is done for the time being.

However, Stevens at least seemed open to offers for White that were too good to turn down.

When the Brooklyn Nets traded Bridges to the New York Knicks last summer, they got back four unprotected first-round picks, a top-four protected pick in 2025 and a 2028 pick swap. That 2025 first-rounder turned into guard Ben Saraf.

Adding that kind of draft capital would've provided Stevens with some options as he and the organization shift their priorities after Jayson Tatum's Achilles injury.

The Celtics could've kept the bulk of those picks to build a younger, cheaper roster around Tatum and Brown, or they could've used them to pursue immediate upgrades.

Based on comments from assistant general manager Mike Zarren, it sounds like this door is all but closed — to the extent it was ever open in the first place.

The king's ransom the Celtics wanted for White was probably so artificially high as to dissuade any suitors from making a strong approach.