The Boston Celtics made it clear to teams interested in acquiring guard Derrick White that they expected a trade package comparable to what Mikal Bridges commanded, according to NBA insider Jake Fischer. This demand, reported on Saturday, set a high bar for negotiations, discouraging potential suitors from making serious offers for White.
Trade Interest Persists but No Serious Offers Materialize
Fischer revealed that the Celtics have received numerous trade inquiries for both Derrick White and Jaylen Brown recently. Despite this, no firm negotiations have taken shape. The team’s stance appears strict, as Fischer noted,
“told at least one rival team that it would have insisted on a ‘Mikal Bridges-type’ package to part with [White].”
Furthermore, he added,
“certainly received no shortage of inbound trade calls on both White and Jaylen Brown in recent days, but nothing got serious on either front.”
Celtics’ Recent Moves and Strategy Amid Roster Changes
As the reigning 2024 NBA champions, the Celtics have recently traded guard Jrue Holiday and center Kristaps Porziņģis, signaling a roster reshuffle. These moves suggest that president of basketball operations Brad Stevens may be settling on the current roster for the time being while staying open to exceptionally good trade proposals.
Stevens’ openness was evident in the context of Derrick White, but the asking price seems to have deterred many teams. When the Brooklyn Nets traded Mikal Bridges to the New York Knicks last summer, they secured a haul including four unprotected first-round picks, a 2025 top-four protected pick, and a 2028 pick swap. The Celtics’ demand for a similar package highlights their high valuation of White.
Impact of Jayson Tatum’s Injury and the Celtics’ Future Plans
Jayson Tatum’s recent Achilles injury has forced the Celtics to reconsider their roster strategy. Acquiring draft capital like the Nets did for Bridges could have provided flexibility to build a younger, cost-effective team around key players like Tatum and Brown or to target immediate impact players. However, assistant general manager Mike Zarren’s comments suggest the possibility of such offers is slim.
This approach reflects a cautious stance from the Celtics’ front office. The steep trade demands for White may have effectively closed the door on significant trade discussions, possibly limiting flexibility for roster adjustments moving forward.