It’s hard to picture Derrick White in anything but green and white, but NBA trade chatter has not spared the Boston Celtics guard.
Despite signing a four-year, $126 million extension last year, his name continues to swirl in speculation.
There have been comments pointing out why a move to Golden State is generating buzz, and why it still feels unlikely, CBS Sports’ Brad Botkin addressed the situation in his June 30 feature.
“The Warriors are going to try to put Jonathan Kuminga into a sign and trade that brings back a serious player,” Botkin said. “Derrick White makes a ton of sense, but the Celtics are reportedly going to demand an extremely aggressive package along the lines of the five first-round picks the Knicks paid for Mikal Bridges or Orlando’s four-pick package for Desmond Bane.”
Botkin added, “White is better than both those guys in a championship context, and the Warriors could feasibly pay it with a Kuminga-based package. But I don’t think they will.”
As for what Boston plans to do, Botkin believes Brad Stevens has no intention of letting White walk.
“When it’s all said and done, the two most likely Kuminga outcomes this summer are the Warriors bringing him back and maybe trying to move him at the trade deadline, or making a less-splashy sign-and-trade,” he wrote, believing Brad Stevens has no intention of letting White walk.
Botkin also suggested the Warriors could look at familiar faces instead of swinging big.
“Wiggins was a critical part of Golden State’s 2022 championship and is perfectly suited and willing to play the role that Kuminga doesn’t want,” he noted. “White would be a blockbuster get, but something smaller is more likely and Wiggins still gives Golden State a third legit scorer and another defender.”
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