Celtics Reportedly Rejected Derrick White Trade Involving 2 1st-Rounders, Pick Swap
The Boston Celtics traded away plenty of talent this offseason, but they reportedly rejected offers to send away guard Derrick White.
Brett Siegel of Clutch Points reported Monday there were "plenty of offers from teams for White, one of which involved two first-round picks and a swap." Siegel also noted the Toronto Raptors built a trade package that was centered around the No. 9 overall pick of the 2025 NBA draft.
However, Boston held strong and decided to keep White as a key part of its core for years to come, considering he is signed through the 2027-28 season with a player option for the 2028-29 campaign.
The same cannot be said about some of the Celtics' other important playmakers from recent years, as they traded away Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porziņģis. What's more, they will likely lose Al Horford in free agency.
With Jayson Tatum's torn Achilles looming over the franchise, the Celtics may take something of a step back during the upcoming season after losing so much talent. They also needed to make moves for a financial reason, as Kyle Howtower of the Associated Press noted they would have faced a luxury tax bill of more than $500 million and the penalties of the second apron had they kept everyone.
But keeping White instead of trading him for multiple first-round picks suggests they still believe in their ability to compete in the immediate future.
And given how wide open the Eastern Conference is with Tyrese Haliburton sidelined for the Indiana Pacers and Damian Lillard no longer on the Milwaukee Bucks, it wouldn't be shocking if Boston is competitive.
Jaylen Brown can be a star, while role players such as Derrick White and Payton Pritchard will be counted on to drain three-pointers and increase their scoring. Throw in the possibility of Tatum returning late in the campaign, and the path is there for potential contention.
Perhaps that is what the front office also envisioned when it decided to keep White and not trade him.
