In February 2022, the Boston Celtics swung a trade that sent Romeo Langford, Josh Richardson, a 2022 first-round pick, and a 2028 first-round pick swap to the San Antonio Spurs. In return, the Celtics received Derrick White. At the time, White was believed to be a high-level role player who could help as a point-of-attack defender and secondary ball-handler next to Marcus Smart.
However, since arriving in Beantown, White has become one of the most important members of the Celtics rotation. This season, he’s playing at such a high level there are multiple sections of the fanbase and the media that are calling for him to get an All-Star selection. In a recent article for The Athletic, Fred Katz named the deal to send White to Boston as the eighth most important trade of the past five years.
“The White deal inspired rapid inflation in the NBA’s trade market, which eventually forced front offices to redefine how they valued first-round picks,” Katz wrote. “Because the Spurs landed not just one first-rounder but also a first-round swap, they were able to leverage the package from Boston in a trade a few months later, when they sent Dejounte Murray to the Atlanta Hawks. Murray was the superior player, so he commanded a superior offer.”
White’s importance to the Celtics’ chances of securing a championship this season cannot be understated. He’s formed an exciting partnership in the Celtics backcourt with Jrue Holiday, which is arguably the most dynamic guard pairing in the NBA.
Celtics Lab 236: Projecting season-long hardware at 2023-24's midpoint with Kwani Lunis https://t.co/MN1NEd7w1T pic.twitter.com/unqku17fYH
— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) January 17, 2024
Now, the deal to acquire the veteran guard from the Spurs is being recognized for its importance, and its impact on the greater trade market. As such, we can safely say Brad Stevens hit a home run when he acquired the latest fan favorite to don the green and white.
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