The Celtics need to find the next Derrick White trade

When the Boston Celtics traded for Derrick White in 2022, it came as a surprise. A deadline deal that seemingly spawned out of thin air.

Boston shipped out Josh Richardson (who, at the time, was playing fairly well), Romeo Langford, a 2022 first-round pick (that turned into Blake Wesley), and a 2028 first-round pick swap (protected top-one).

That year, White was playing well in San Antonio. In his 49 appearances (48 starts, 30.3 minutes per contest), he was averaging 14.4 points, 3.5 rebounds, 5.6 assists, 1.0 steals, and 0.9 blocks while shooting 42.6 percent from the field and 31.4 percent from deep on 5.3 3-point attempts per contest.

He was having a solid season, but few foresaw the rapid development he would soon enjoy. White went from a quality role player to one of the best role players in the NBA. Not only was he an integral part of Boston's 2024 title run, but he's been a huge part of their team ever since.

White had a down year this season, but outside of that, he's been incredible. An All-NBA First Team nod this season. A reliable 3-point shooter up until this year (and perhaps the return of Jayson Tatum can help refuel his 3-point fire). And again, until this year, a playoff riser in every sense of the word.

But put this season aside. That's not the point of this article. White himself isn't even the point.

The point is, Boston needs to find its next Derrick White-esque trade.

At the time the deal was made, San Antonio was lost. A middle-of-nowhere team stuck in between the lottery and the playoffs. So, they cleaned out. The White trade was part of that.

And obviously, it worked out well for them. The Spurs landed three straight top-five picks and are now in the NBA Finals.

But the Celtics benefited from that gutting of the roster. They found White. A guy who wasn't necessarily a huge name on the trade market, but a guy they believed in. Boston banked on White's potential and struck gold.

Now, in a weird spot, searching for answers after two straight disappointing playoff exits, the Celtics need a new White trade. A new middle-of-the-pack team to deal with. A new guy who hasn't necessarily shown his full potential yet. A new guy to take a chance on.

The question is, who is it?

First and foremost, the new lottery odds will affect this quest. Teams will no longer be eager to finish with the worst record in the league, so they may be more willing to hang onto guys like White. But inevitably, some teams will be willing to trade. Such is life in the NBA.

That said, the first and second aprons will also be a factor. Competitive teams may look to shed salary in hopes of avoiding apron penalties, which could open up a whole new avenue for the Celtics to explore on the trade market.

All of that being said, here are some potential options I landed on. Again, these are not superstars. Not even stars. But instead, guys who haven't quite reached their peak yet, whom Boston could take a chance on, in hopes that they will develop into something more than they already are (much like White when he left San Antonio).

Trey Murphy III

This may be the most obvious candidate on this list.

Trey Murphy III's name has been tossed around as a potential Celtics trade candidate for a while now, but mostly when linked to the New Orleans Pelicans' reported interest in Jaylen Brown.

However, Murphy also fits into Boston's roughly $27.7 million Traded Player Exception. So, in theory, if the Celtics threw enough draft capital at the Pelicans, they could make the move without trading Brown.

Also, since Nikola Vucevic likely won't be back in Boston next year, the Celtics could use the TPE to trade for someone while remaining under the luxury tax (if they play their cards right).

Murphy is one of the best offensive players in the league. He's an elite 3-point shooter off the catch and can shoot it off the dribble, too.

If given more freedom to thrive in an offense already built with spacing -- instead of the Pelicans' current roster construction -- it's not hard to imagine Murphy taking another leap forward.

That said, the statistical leap White made may not be replicable, as Murphy already posted career numbers this past season.

Still, bringing in another elite offensive creator -- one who thrives off the ball, too -- could be a smart idea for a Celtics team that struggled to put up points in the playoffs.

Nic Claxton

During his time with the Brooklyn Nets, Nic Claxton has cemented himself as a quality rotation center. A quality starter, even.

Much like Murphy, if given the chance to play with elite talent (again -- he played with the Kevin Durant-led Nets), he could make a jump.

Claxton is a switchable defender who improved his playmaking ability a ton this past season. In his prime, he was one of the best shot-blockers in the NBA, finishing ninth in DPOY voting in 2022-23.

He added a bit of a scoring bag this year, putting the ball on the floor and making plays under head coach Jordi Fernandez.

Alongside Neemias Queta, Claxton would solidify Boston's center rotation and give them another guy who could play the best basketball of his career in a Celtics uniform.

Brooklyn doesn't seem likely to be in the title race anytime soon, so they should be open for business. Claxton also fits into Boston's TPE.

Santi Aldama

This past year was the best of Santi Aldama's career. He averaged a career-high 14.0 points and shot the ball decently well from deep.

Up to this point in his career, he hasn't been the best shooter, and his points per game have capped out in the low 10s -- sound familiar?

Stuck on a middling Memphis Grizzlies team, Aldama currently finds himself in a similar situation to the one White was in with the Spurs.

At his best, Aldama is a switchy power forward who can plug holes on the defensive end. He can shoot the long ball and will show flashes of individual shot creation, too.

Placed alongside the talent Boston currently has, it's not hard to imagine a world where he breaks out into a better version of himself.

And as Memphis looks to (most likely) build around Cameron Boozer, Cedric Coward, and Zach Edey, Aldama could be up for grabs.

He only played 43 games this past year and had season-ending arthroscopic surgery on his right knee, but it's hard to know whether his shutdown was due to injury concerns or to Memphis tanking (seemingly the latter). Aldama had played at least 60 games in each of the three prior seasons.

Keegan Murray

The Sacramento Kings aren't going anywhere. They're in a rough spot. But that also means there are plenty of distressed assets for teams to pick from.

Keegan Murray struggled through a down year this past season. But at his best, he was a sharpshooter, 3-and-D menace on a fun, up-and-coming Kings squad.

If he shot that well alongside De'Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis' spacing, imagine what he could do in Boston.

Murray would have more room to thrive as a role player with the Celtics. Betting on Murray's progression as a 25-year-old could be an intriguing offseason option.

Like Aldama, Murray was out for most of this past year, but like the Grizzlies, it's hard to know how much of it was due to the Kings' tanking.

Aaron Wiggins

Welcome to the Oklahoma City Thunder portion of the article.

The Thunder will be a second-apron team next year, but they have too much depth for their own good. This summer, there's a good chance they look to shed money to avoid the second-apron penalties.

Aaron Wiggins may be one of those guys, and he's someone who may be due for a developmental leap, given the right situation.

Wiggins has been a solid role player in OKC, but given the chance to expand his role, he could be even more than that.

His 3-point shooting and ability to score on the ball are intriguing skill sets for Boston to keep its eye on. He's on a great contract, and if the Thunder may shed money anyway, Boston could take a swing.

Cason Wallace

This one is much less likely than Wiggins, but Brad Stevens should at least call and ask about Cason Wallace.

Wallace just wrapped up an All-Defensive season, and in Game 7 against the San Antonio Spurs, he showed off some big-time shot-making. It was almost his way of saying, "I'm ready for a bigger role."

When asked about his Thunder future, Wallace didn't give a clear answer. He said he's more focused on improving himself.

The youngster is due an extension soon, and if he's not sold on being in OKC long-term, maybe there's a world where the Celtics trust him as one of their backcourt leaders of the future.

He's an elite on-ball defender who wreaks havoc against every player he faces. And on the offensive end, it feels like he has some untapped potential that's been hidden behind OKC's stars.

Again, it seems more than likely that Wallace will be a staple in OKC for years to come, but Stevens should at least call to ask about a potential trade.

Jaylin Williams

This is perhaps the most intriguing Thunder trade target of the bunch.

Chet Holmgren isn't getting traded this summer. All reports have indicated OKC's desire to bring back Isaiah Hartenstein, too. And Thomas Sorber will finally be available next year after missing his entire rookie season due to a torn ACL he suffered in September.

Williams will make $7.7 million next season and has a $7.7 million team option the year after that. It's a great contract, but with the Thunder's financial crunch, it's also easy money to shed at a position with solid depth.

For Boston, Williams could be the perfect center option next to Queta. He's a great interior defender, constantly looking to draw charges. He can get out and move on the perimeter when he needs to. And on offense, his floor spacing would be perfect in the Celtics' rotation.

He's nowhere close to it yet, as he has much to prove, but Williams may be the closest thing Boston can find to an Al Horford replacement, should he develop well.

It's hard to peg anyone but Murphy or Claxton as the dream trade target of this bunch, but Williams may take the cake. He's a developmental gem just waiting to be unearthed.

Day'Ron Sharpe

There were rumors that the Celtics were interested in signing Day'Ron Sharpe last summer, so why not revisit the idea?

Sharpe is a big-bodied center who dominates the offensive glass. He scores the ball at an efficient clip and has even shown off some underrated playmaking chops at times.

At just 24 years old, it feels like Sharpe still has more to give at the NBA level, and a change of situation could seriously help him.

He played for the Durant Nets, but he didn't get many minutes. So, since he's started playing regularly, all Sharpe has known is losing basketball.

Placing him in a rotation role next to Boston's depth could be exactly what Sharpe needs to pop.

Peyton Watson

This past year, Peyton Watson already enjoyed a little bit of a breakout. But he will be a restricted free agent this summer, and if the Celtics executed a sign-and-trade, they could try to steal him away from the Denver Nuggets.

Denver is going to be expensive next year, and they don't exactly have a history of being willing to pay a ton of taxes. So, it seems inevitable that they will make some tough roster decisions this summer.

Rather than letting Watson walk, the Nuggets will probably trade one of Aaron Gordon or Cameron Johnson to make room to sign Watson, but the Celtics should still target Watson above the others.

Watson is a great defender at the forward spot, and he took an offensive leap this year, too. He improved greatly from beyond the arc and could even start developing his on-ball game, if given the chance.

He's only 23 years old, and it feels as though a breakout could be in line, given the right circumstances.

Brice Sensabaugh

The Utah Jazz are in an interesting spot. They'll probably look to be competitive next year, and maybe Brice Sensabaugh is part of that plan.

But (most likely) with Darryn Peterson, Keyonte George, Lauri Markkanen, Ace Bailey, Isaiah Collier, and Kyle Filipowski in the lineup, there are already a lot of mouths to feed. And that's without even considering a potential Walker Kessler extension.

Sensabaugh could be a piece Utah looks to move in hopes of adding some draft capital to their cabinet.

At just 22 years old, Sensabaugh has already proven to be a capable scorer. He can make things happen with the ball in his hands, and Boston could use a guy like that.

He's still imperfect, but so was White when the Celtics traded for him.

Justin Champagnie

A reunion? Justin Champagnie enjoyed a cup of coffee in Boston not too long ago, and now, he's a solid role player for the Washington Wizards.

Maybe the Wizards value him too much to move him for a low price, but his rebounding and hustle would fit perfectly in the Celtics' culture.

He may be a bit too similar to a lot of the wings and forwards Boston already has on the roster, but Champagnie can play.

Scotty Pippen Jr.

Like his teammate, Aldama, Pippen didn't play much last year. In fact, he only appeared in 11 games. So, that's definitely a concern that would have to be ironed out before making a move.

However, when Pippen is on the court, he's one of the league's most underrated game managers.

He just knows how to sort things out. High assist numbers, low turnover numbers, and a pretty efficient 3-point shot (albeit at low volume).

Pippen is only 25 years old. He could be a very solid bench point guard for the Celtics behind Payton Pritchard and White.

Oso Ighodaro

The Phoenix Suns probably won't trade Oso Ighodaro. He's played important minutes for them.

But they have Mark Williams and Khaman Maluach on the roster, and their draft cabinet is pretty empty. If Boston threw the right package the Suns' way, would they bite?

Ighodaro is a great positional defender, and he feels like he could grow into the type of guy who can switch easily (if he isn't already).

He makes up for his lack of jump shot with great cutting and impressive passing at the big man position. Ighodaro would provide Boston with some much-needed center depth, and he's still only 23 years old.