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Celtics linked to monster Derrick White-centered trade for $110 million four-time DPOY originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Derrick White has recently emerged as a potential trade candidate for the Boston Celtics.
The 18-time NBA champions need a game-changing center after competing with a mediocre frontcourt unit this past season, and making White available in trade talk could help them land the near-perfect big man.
Per the Stein Line’s Jake Fischer, the Celtics should consider swapping White for a four-time Defensive Player of the Year in a monster offseason trade.
“As for White: It would also be a surprise, sources say, if the Celtics cut ties with him,” Fischer wrote Saturday. “The 31-year-old is a beloved member of the organization on top of the fact that his two-way backcourt work has put him in annual All-Star contention as a Celtic.”
“All that said, in reference to Minnesota's (Timberwolves) interest in White, which The Athletic's Sam Amick first reported Friday morning, trading him for Rudy Gobert would represent a clear salary match.”
“Sources say that Boston, furthermore, has inquired about Gobert before ... most recently at February's trade deadline.”
“Now I don't think that the Wolves are actively shopping Gobert, either way, but Minnesota is said to be as exploratory and open-minded as Boston when it comes to shaking up the roster around the team's clear alpha (Anthony Edwards).”
Gobert may not be the most skilled center ever to step foot on an NBA court. However, he’s highly effective in situations that don’t require him to take matters into his own hands in the low post (for example, he often gets rewarded for running the floor hard with beautiful transition dimes and isn’t a good pick-and-roll finisher).
The former first-round pick makes the bulk of his money on the defensive end, though, as his resume as a Tier 1 NBA shot-blocker matches up well with anyone’s.
In addition to earning four DPOY nods, Gobert has received eight All-Defensive first-team selections, one All-Defensive second-team selection, and led the NBA in blocks in 2017.
With the 33-year-old big man in the fold, the Celtics’ fastbreak finishing, ball screen execution, and interior defense would be positively impacted in 2026-27.
Would Boston be willing to part ways with White to bring Gobert to Boston? Only time will tell.
More NBA news:
Lakers linked to massive four-team Giannis Antetokounmpo trade for $106 million shot-blocking star
Spurs predicted to outbid Warriors for $101 million Lakers star, four-time NBA champion
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