In order to avoid the second tier of the NBA’s luxury-tax structure and to clear off salary, Brad Stevens and the Celtics were quite busy this week.
The Celtics lost two important players from the 2024 championship team in a single day: Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday. Their departures resulted in more than $180 million in luxury-tax penalties.
However, it was said that the Celtics were doing everything they could to restructure their roster, particularly by leaving Derrick White and Jaylen Brown available for trade.
Given his defensive prowess, 3-point shooting ability, and the stability of a four-year, $118 million contract—which would be easier to digest than, say, the four years and $235 million left on Brown’s contract—White would be a desirable addition to a number of teams.
White would be a desirable trade piece, but the Celtics also had no intention of moving the guard for less than a premium.
The Toronto Raptors offered White the No. 9 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, according to Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints, before of Wednesday’s first round.
JUST IN: Teams with Top-10 choices have targeted Derrick White in addition to contacting about Jaylen Brown.League sources told @ClutchPoints that the Toronto Raptors just made an offer for White that included the 9th selection.This link: https://t.co/JoxU02Awfo
Zach Lowe of The Ringer stated on his own podcast Thursday afternoon that the Celtics were not lured by that offer.
Derrick White was reportedly offered the No. 9 pick by the Raptors, according to Lowe. I’ve been informed that’s accurate, but it occurred a month and a half ago following Jayson Tatum’s injury. Boston rejected that offer, stating that they needed much more than No. 9 for Derrick White.
The Celtics are reportedly only planning to move their starting guard if they receive an offer that is too good to turn down, despite the fact that doing so may provide Boston with even more future salary relief.
When discussing Boston’s summer strategy on Wednesday night, Brad Stevens stated, “We’ll try our best to put the right group together while also regaining some flexibility and maximizing some asset return.” However, I believe our group is strong. With Jaylen, Jayson, D-White, Payton, and all the other guys who many teams adore, we have the foundation.
Since 2023, Conor Ryan has worked as a staff writer for Boston.com, covering the Boston Bruins, Celtics, Patriots, and Red Sox.
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