The Celtics were just a part of a chaotic day in the NBA as teams lined up before the trade deadline to revamp their rosters. Boston president Brad Stevens was clearly unafraid to make moves Thursday as he put together three separate trades.
The side moves were minor. Bol Bol and PJ Dozier were sent to the Magic in a cost-cutting deal. Daniel Theis re-joins Boston as Dennis Schröder, Enes Freedom and Bruno Fernando were all shipped to the Rockets.
The main dish was acquiring Derrick White from the Spurs, though the cost was high as the Celtics said farewell to Josh Richardson, Romeo Langford and a 2022 first-round pick (protected through picks 1-4). San Antonio also gets a 2028 first-round pick swap.
That’s a lot of assets for White, but the Celtics clearly like the 6-foot-4 guard. The 27-year-old is also locked up under contract through the 2024-25 season, meaning the C’s get the prime years of his career.
What role will White fill for the Celtics? He’s not the perfect fit, but the former Spur brings a lot to Boston.
There’s already a connection with the current roster, too, as White was part of the 2019 U.S. FIBA World Cup squad. That’s the same team Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown and Marcus Smart played for; Ime Udoka was also an assistant coach. The San Antonio connection is also significant as Udoka and current C’s assistant Will Hardy coached White when they were all under Gregg Popovich.
White’s a solid two-way guard who averaged 14.4 points, 5.6 assists and 3.5 rebounds for the Spurs this season. It hasn’t been White’s best year thus far, but he was still a solid starter for the Spurs. He should also be a solid cultural fit since he already has the San Antonio familiarity with Udoka.
Then there’s White’s defense, which should slide in seamlessly with the Celtics’ stout unit that ranks third in the NBA in defensive efficiency. That’s a great one-two punch Udoka can throw at opponents when paired with Smart on the perimeter. The Celtics are leaning into their defensive identity — don’t forget about Theis, too — and White should fit that ethos well.
It’s not all perfect: White’s shooting 31.4% on 3-pointers this season; the Celtics need all the spacing they can get. He’s had better shooting seasons in his career, but at a career 34.4% mark, that’s not exactly a strength of his. The C’s will hope he can add a few percentage points onto the 3-point shooting, much like Richardson did this season.
White, though, is slated to be a crucial rotation player for the Celtics. There’s a sixth-man role waiting for White after Boston shipped out Richardson and Schröder. Udoka often called Schröder a “sixth starter” who can slide in whenever somebody is out. Now, that’s all White.
The Celtics’ starting lineup — which ranks as one of the best in the league — is already set with their roles. White should slide in well as a defensive player and someone who can also pass well off the bench. The Celtics could always use some extra ball movement, and coming from the Spurs, White should be able to spread the wealth well. The fit alongside Smart and the Jays also looks promising.
It’ll be interesting to see how Udoka utilizes White and the rest of the bench. The first-year coach featured an eight-man rotation in recent weeks; two of those players are now gone. White figures to be a natural replacement, but there’s playing time available for any Celtic who steps up in the next few weeks. Guys like Grant Williams, Aaron Nesmith and Payton Pritchard should be set for more opportunities.
Any determinations, though, should be pending any other future moves the Celtics make considering they have a whopping five roster spots open. It’s clear Stevens isn’t afraid to make some deals as he looked to set up the present but also the future.
