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The Boston Celtics are just 3-5 to start the 2025-26 NBA campaign and are certainly not championship contenders this season with Jayson Tatum sidelined, so they may decide to sell some pieces by the trade deadline. It sounds wild to label the Celtics as sellers, considering that they have been perennial title contenders, but coupled with the torn Achilles tendon Tatum suffered last May, Boston also traded away Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday while watching Al Horford and Luke Kornet depart via free agency. Read more: 76ers’ Joel Embiid Calls Out NBA Over Fine The NBA’s second apron has completely sapped the Celtics, and even right now, they remain over the luxury tax, which is why most still expect them to make at least one more move between now and February. Could star guard Derrick White be the player who goes? Bleacher Report’s Dan Favale has listed White as Boston’s top trade asset this year, which should not come as too much of a surprise (unless you think the C’s could move Jaylen Brown). But what’s shocking is the trade value that Favale has placed upon White. “White is the line of demarcation. At 31, he’s best suited on an immediate contender,” Favale wrote. “The Celtics could probably get at least three first-rounders if they’re willing to move him.” BOSTON, MA – NOVEMBER 16: RJ Barrett #9 of the Toronto Raptors gets tied up going to the basket by Derrick White #9 of the Boston Celtics, right, and Jaylen Brown #7 during the third quarter at TD Garden on November 16, 2024 in Boston, Massachusetts. At least three first-round picks? For a player who has never made an All-Star team nor averaged 20 points per game in a single campaign? And to make matters worse, White is really struggling this season, posting 15 points a night on miserable 30.8/25.0/88.9 shooting splits. Obviously, it’s still early, and there is plenty of time for White to right the ship. After all, he has recorded 44.5/37.6/87.0 splits since arriving in Boston midway through the 2021-22 campaign. But there is absolutely no way that any team would surrender three first-round picks for White. Even Brown might not be able to fetch that much. Read more: Celtics Predicted to Cut Ties With $118 Million Guard in Blockbuster Trade White signed a four-year, $125 million extension with the Celtics during the summer of 2024, keeping him under wraps through 2029. That contract will make the aging veteran even more difficult to trade. Not that it’s a horrendous deal, but you probably aren’t going to find any teams ready to jump at the idea of moving a bunch of valuable pieces for a potentially declining 31-year-old on such a long-term deal. We’ll see if Boston shops White in the coming months. For all the latest NBA news and rumors, head over to Newsweek Sports.
