The Boston Celtics' need to shed some salary and revamp the roster this offseason is the worst-kept secret in the NBA. Following Jayson Tatum's devastating injury, the Celtics have no choice but to make significant moves this summer for financial reasons.
In all likelihood, at least one of four Celtics starters besides Tatum will not be in Boston next season. While many Celtics fans hope and expect Jrue Holiday and/or Kristaps Porzingis to be traded, that is not a given. GM Brad Stevens is notable for not leaving any stones unturned, putting every Celtic at risk of getting moved.
The teams around the NBA know this as well. In fact, the Ringer's Logan Murdock reported on the Zach Lowe Show that the Golden State Warriors are already looking at Derrick White.
Warriors Hoping Celtics Make Derrick White Mistake This Offseason
Interest in the two-way guard is not surprising. White is playing the best basketball of his career and is under contract for at least until 2028. He is on a team-friendly deal, making $28.1 million next season. Not only is he one of the best defenders of his position, but he has also turned himself into one of the elite three-point shooters in the league in the last few seasons.
It would presumably take a monster offer for Brad Stevens to send White to another title contender. The Warriors are likely intrigued by the seamless fit of Steph Curry and Derrick White in the backcourt, but they would have to part ways with at least two first-round picks to make it happen.
They'd also have to include a combination of Moses Moody, Brandin Podziemski, and Buddy Hield (or a sign-and-trade involving Jonathan Kuminga) for salary-matching purposes.
The Celtics are in a cap crisis, and moments like this can require drastic changes. It wouldn't be shocking if Boston decided to move on from White, but one has to imagine that it would happen only after Stevens exhausted all trade scenarios involving Porzingis and Holiday first.