{"id":143457,"date":"2025-06-04T16:33:09","date_gmt":"2025-06-04T20:33:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/?p=143457"},"modified":"2025-06-04T16:33:09","modified_gmt":"2025-06-04T20:33:09","slug":"celtics-derrick-white-trade-decision","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2025\/06\/04\/celtics-derrick-white-trade-decision\/","title":{"rendered":"Celtics Set to Make Obvious Derrick White Decision"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The Boston Celtics are undoubtedly set to shake up their roster this summer, with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/h\/holidjr01.html?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2025-06-04_bbr\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Jrue Holiday<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/p\/porzikr01.html?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2025-06-04_bbr\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Kristaps Porzi\u0146\u0123is<\/a> being the <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2025\/05\/17\/celtics-fans-say-goodbye-these-3-players\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\">most likely players on the move<\/a>. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/w\/whitede01.html?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2025-06-04_bbr\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Derrick White<\/a> is one player who is surely valued around the league, but shouldn&#8217;t and won&#8217;t be moved.<a href=\"https:\/\/hoopshype.com\/lists\/nba-intel-celtics-trade-candidates-james-hardens-free-agency-timberwolves-kings\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"> Michael Scotto of HoopsHype<\/a> confirmed this in a recent report.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Derrick White, who turns 31 in July, has always drawn interest from teams around the league. However, Boston has rebuffed previous inquiries to this point, and he\u2019s still young enough to potentially be a difference-maker during the 2026-27 season when Tatum should be fully healthy.&#8221; Scotto wrote.<\/p>\n<p>This might seem fairly obvious given White&#8217;s immense two-way value. Regardless, this report should be a relief to Celtics fans. Let&#8217;s dive into White&#8217;s impact and why it&#8217;s an easy call for the Celtics to keep him.<\/p>\n<h2>Celtics Set to Make Obvious Derrick White Decision<\/h2>\n<h3>Keeping White is a No-Brainer<\/h3>\n<p>White is coming off a career season, averaging 16.4 points, 4.5 rebounds, 4.8 assists, and 1.1 blocks with 44.2\/38.4\/83.9 shooting splits. His three-point shooting, connective playmaking, and versatile defense make him an essential part of the Celtics&#8217; core. White&#8217;s elite shooting and defense make him a perfect fit in Boston&#8217;s system. While the Celtics will have to shed salary, White shouldn&#8217;t be a trade candidate. Boston won&#8217;t be a title contender with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/t\/tatumja01.html?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2025-06-04_bbr\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Jayson Tatum<\/a> out for at least the majority of next season. Regardless, in the 2026-27 season, they could make another title run if they retain their core.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Derrick White appreciation post \u2618\ufe0f <a  href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/LMKt4LZGtx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pic.twitter.com\/LMKt4LZGtx<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Tomek Kordylewski (@Timi_093) <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Timi_093\/status\/1894023289342750877?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">February 24, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>Tatum, White, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/b\/brownja02.html?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2025-06-04_bbr\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Jaylen Brown<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/p\/pritcpa01.html?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2025-06-04_bbr\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Payton Pritchard<\/a> are the clear keepers. The core of Tatum, Brown, and White is clearly at a championship level. Add in elite complementary players like Pritchard, and the path to the Celtics competing for a championship again is clear. But that all hinges on Boston retaining Brown and White, who have proven to be perfect fits next to Tatum.<\/p>\n<p>Notably, White&#8217;s four-year $118 million contract is solid value. Sure, White would yield a nice return if the Celtics opted to trade him. However, these packages would likely be centered around young players and picks. The Celtics need proven players to return to contention in 2026-27, and keeping White is an essential part of that. Overall, you don&#8217;t trade a player who fits perfectly in your system and alongside your star.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_143465\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-143465\" style=\"width: 640px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/06\/USATSI_25907574_168404824_lowres-scaled.jpg\" target=\"_self\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large wp-image-143465\" src=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/06\/USATSI_25907574_168404824_lowres-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"427\" srcset=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/06\/USATSI_25907574_168404824_lowres-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/06\/USATSI_25907574_168404824_lowres-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/06\/USATSI_25907574_168404824_lowres-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/06\/USATSI_25907574_168404824_lowres-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/06\/USATSI_25907574_168404824_lowres-2048x1366.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/06\/USATSI_25907574_168404824_lowres-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/06\/USATSI_25907574_168404824_lowres-1200x800.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-143465\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Apr 11, 2025; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Celtics guard Derrick White (9) dribbles the ball against the Charlotte Hornets during the first half at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-Imagn Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h3>Scotto Confirmed Well-Known Celtics Trade Rumors<\/h3>\n<p>While Scotto confirmed the Celtics have no interest in trading White, he noted the likelihood of Porzi\u0146\u0123is, Holiday, and Hauser being moved.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Several executives around the league believe Boston will explore the trade market for center Kristaps Porzi\u0146\u0123is, who\u2019s owed $30.73 million and an expiring contract after the 2025-26 season&#8230; Porzingis is viewed by executives around the league as Boston\u2019s top trade candidate to trim salary for next season.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Celtics guard Jrue Holiday, who turns 35 later this month and is owed a combined $104.4 million over the next three years, including a player option for the 2027-28 season, has already been linked to trade interest from the Clippers and Mavericks.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Another trade candidate to keep an eye on in the eyes of NBA executives around the league is sharpshooter <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/h\/hausesa01.html?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2025-06-04_bbr\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Sam Hauser<\/a>.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Given Porzi\u0146\u0123is&#8217; extensive injury history, poor play in the playoffs, and high salary, it&#8217;s clear why the Celtics would move off him. Nevertheless, it&#8217;s unclear what his value would be for those reasons. Interestingly, Scotto notes that Porzi\u0146\u0123is is viewed as Boston&#8217;s top trade candidate, which is somewhat surprising due to his likely low value.<\/p>\n<p>Holiday&#8217;s two-way impact and championship experience indicate he has the best value of these players. <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2025\/05\/23\/5-trade-destinations-for-jrue-holiday\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\">Teams having a known interest<\/a> in Holiday is an encouraging sign. Out of Boston&#8217;s trade candidates, Holiday gives the Celtics the best chance to get some impactful players back. Moving off Hauser would be an easy way to save money, and his elite shooting will likely intrigue multiple teams. <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2025\/03\/24\/celtics-to-replace-sam-hauser-with-baylor-scheierman\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\">Hauser is expendable<\/a> with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/s\/scheiba01.html?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2025-06-04_bbr\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Baylor Scheierman<\/a> on the rise, and it would help the Celtics avoid some expensive tax penalties. Ultimately, Celtics fans can expect some key changes this offseason, but should be delighted that White will be back.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Featured image: \u00a9 Bob DeChiara-Imagn Images<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Boston Celtics are undoubtedly set to shake up their roster this summer, with Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzi\u0146\u0123is being the most likely players on the move. Derrick White is one player who is surely valued around the league, but shouldn&#8217;t and won&#8217;t be moved. Michael Scotto of HoopsHype confirmed this in a recent report. [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4779,"featured_media":143463,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1608,5,62,3,4721],"tags":[1090,239,138],"class_list":["post-143457","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-basketball","category-celtics","category-nba","category-news","category-trade-rumors","tag-derrick-white","tag-jrue-holiday","tag-kristaps-porzingis"],"modified_by":"Eamon Cassels, Editor","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/143457","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4779"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=143457"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/143457\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":143470,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/143457\/revisions\/143470"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/143463"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=143457"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=143457"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=143457"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}