The Boston Celtics’ roster is known to be one of the best in the NBA, and they have the accolades to back up that claim. In fact, another one of their players in Derrick White just won one, being named to the 2025-2026 NBA First Team All-Defensive.
This is the first time he made the first team, as he has two Second Team All-Defensives before that. However, with a potentially monumental offseason on the horizon for Boston, these awards might not keep White safe.
White has been an excellent third option
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Since trading for him in 2022, White has been elite for Boston. He’s averaged 14.7 points, 4.1 rebounds, 4.7 assists, 0.9 steals, and 1.1 blocks in 31.8 minutes per game. He’s been a great third scorer behind Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum, stepping up when one has an off night.
On top of that, he’s one of the best defensive guards in the game, and he’s the best guard when it comes to blocks, as he rivals seven footers with his block stats.
This past season was a clear downgrade
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The problem is, Father Time comes for us all. And now, he’s come for White. This past season showed clear regression for the 31-year-old, and Boston may not be ready for the next step back.
While he did average a career-high 16.5 points this season, keep in mind, Tatum was out for a majority of the year, making White the second option. Plus, his shooting stats have really taken a dive. His FG% dropped almost 50 points, from .442 in 2025 to .394 this year, and his 3FG% went from .384 to .327, in only one year.
His playoff performance was abysmal as well. He only averaged 11.1 points, shooting 32% from the field and 27% from deep.
White’s future is unclear
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After showing signs of decline, White’s future in Boston is up in the air. He’s owed a little over $97 million over three years, so shopping him while he still has great defensive value and some offensive value may be the smart decision.
Packaging White in some type of blockbuster to not lose Brown might be the play for the Celtics. If that’s the case, Celtics fans will wish him luck, and say thank you for Banner 18 and all the good times he gave them.
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