Derrick White and Jaylen Brown have become hot topics this offseason following significant changes to the Boston Celtics roster.
The Boston Celtics entered rebuild mode after Jayson Tatum suffered a serious injury that will sideline him for the entire season.
The Celtics responded by trading key players Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis during free agency. These moves sparked rumors that Boston would consider trading Derrick White and Jaylen Brown as well.
Multiple teams inquired about both players’ availability throughout the summer. White particularly attracted interest from contending franchises seeking backcourt upgrades.
NBA insider Brett Siegel revealed that more teams called about White than Brown, with Western Conference contenders leading the pursuit of the veteran guard.
Siegel identified the Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Lakers, and Golden State Warriors as the primary suitors for White. All three franchises made formal inquiries about potential trade scenarios.
“There just wasn’t really anything brewing on that front. You had multiple teams calling about Brown, even more teams calling about Derrick White, especially in the Western Conference,” Siegel reported.
“You can look up and down the list from teams like the Rockets, Warriors. I’m sure the Lakers probably made a call there. They’re always involved in those trade talks. But I do know that the Warriors and the Rockets were two teams that inquired about Derrick White and put out feelers to see what it would take to get him,” Siegel added.
Boston immediately turned down initial proposals despite multiple first-round picks being included in the packages. The Celtics established an extremely high compensation threshold for any potential White trade.
The organization views White as untouchable alongside Brown, despite their willingness to consider massive offers. Only historic trade packages would change their position.
“And the Celtics did have an offer on the table that involved multiple first round picks. They did not want to trade Derrick White. He’s a player that they viewed as untouchable just like Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum,” Siegel explained.
Boston’s resistance reflects their valuation of White as a crucial piece rather than expendable asset during their roster transition.
Siegel compared Boston’s asking price to the massive package Utah received for Rudy Gobert from Minnesota. The Celtics would only consider deals matching that historic precedent.
“Again, untouchable in quotes because if you get a package like a Rudy Gobert type package that the Utah Jazz got a few years ago when you’re getting pretty much every team’s round pick and a young talent to build with, something that you have to consider,” Siegel added.
The Gobert trade included Malik Beasley, Patrick Beverley, Leandro Bolmaro, Walker Kessler, Jarred Vanderbilt, four first-round picks, and one pick swap.
The massive haul set unprecedented standards for star player compensation, even for a player like Gobert—who recently criticized by NBA legend Shaquille O‘Neil.
The Warriors, Lakers, and Rockets likely cannot assemble packages matching Boston’s Gobert-level demands. Golden State possesses limited draft capital and aging roster assets.
The Lakers face similar constraints with minimal young talent and protected future picks. Houston maintains more flexibility but already constructed a balanced roster for next season.
The gap between Boston’s asking price and available offers ensures White remains with the Celtics during their rebuild.
The franchise’s historic compensation demands effectively remove him from realistic trade discussions despite widespread interest from contending teams.
