As the Boston Celtics look to reset their franchise, a number of their core players have been made available on the market this summer. Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday have already found new teams, and the word on the street is that Derrick White could be next. As much as they might try to deny his availability, people are convinced that they’ll send him packing for the right price.
While we don’t know what the franchise has planned this summer, White’s sudden availability is expected to draw major interest across the league, and there’s one team in particular that could benefit from his skills: The Cleveland Cavaliers. In this hypothetical trade scenario, the Cavs could acquire White for a package centered around Darius Garland.
Proposed Trade Details
Boston Celtics Receive: Darius Garland
Cleveland Cavaliers Receive: Derrick White, Sam Hauser, Jordan Walsh, 2032 second-round pick
Celtics Go Young And Build For The Future
Derrick White found his place on the Celtics during their championship run two seasons ago, when he averaged 15.2 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 5.2 assists per game on 44.2% shooting. This year, he was even better with averages of 16.4 points and 4.5 rebounds per game.
During their glory days with Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, White played a major role in the backcourt, and it was good enough to sign a 4-year, $118,048,000 contract in July of 2024. But after a disappointing season ended with Jayson Tatum tearing his Achilles, the situation has changed in Boston, and now it seems they are orchestrating a soft rebuild as their star takes time to recover.
With White locked into his contract until 2029, the only way that he’s getting out is via trade, and the Celtics believe they can get enough back in a deal to justify shopping him. At 30 years old, White isn’t getting any younger, and by the time that the Celtics are whole again, he’ll be almost 32.
Cavaliers Add Veteran Point Guard To Increase Title Odds
The Cleveland Cavaliers have a solid and star-studded core with Darius Garland, Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley, and Jarrett Allen. They impressed fans this season with a 64-win season, but they failed to follow it up with a successful playoff run. Instead, they got bounced in the second round, and they’ve vowed to make some changes in response.
As good as Darius Garland has been for them, he’s only 25 years old and is still actively developing his game. Plus, with an inconsistent jumper, some experts feel he’s become the weak link in Cleveland. By sending him and his lucrative contract to Boston, the Cavs can increase their depth at multiple positions.
By replacing Garland with White, the Cavaliers become more well-rounded in the backcourt with a more seamless fit of playstyle. While White isn’t the same playmaker or finisher as Garland, he’s a more consistent shooter, a more versatile defender, and an overall smarter basketball player who does all the little things to help his team win.
Risky Trade Could Have Massive Reward
The Celtics and Cavaliers are in very different spots right now. One side is the Celtics, who are in the aftermath of having won a championship. As they move toward the next phase of their development, we will likely see more adjustments to the roster as they look to get younger and build up for the future.
Trading a trusted veteran like Derrick White (who helped them win a title last year) is not an easy thing to do, but the Celtics aren’t going anywhere next season with Tatum down, and the best thing they could do now is find some young talent that might brighten their future. While some are pushing the Cavaliers to rebuild, they are still determined to make a run, and it’s only natural for them to consider someone like Derrick White, who is still in his prime and someone who has proven to be a championship-level difference-maker.
The Cavaliers end up with extra players and a pick to accommodate for White being so much older, but he’s a much better fit for their win-now timeline than Boston, and his skills might be just what they need to have a breakthrough in the playoffs.
