Derrick White Proves His Worth to Boston Celtics as Trade Deadline Addition

The Boston Celtics surprised many by making Derrick White their trade deadline addition in 2022 instead of a rumored move for Bradley Beal. White had been playing for the San Antonio Spurs since 2018 and had only recently cracked the starting lineup, but his presence has suddenly become too valuable to ignore on a team with championship aspirations.

White’s impact was immediately felt as Boston went on to win the Eastern Conference crown with him in the lineup. His versatile defensive abilities, especially when matched up against some of the league’s top point guards, were crucial for a team already boasting a star-studded trio of Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown and Kemba Walker.

On offense, White proved to be a welcome addition as well, providing the Celtics with another scoring threat and capable ball-handler. He averaged 13 points per game during the playoffs, shooting a career-best 42% from beyond the arc.

The move has paid dividends for Boston in more ways than one. The presence of White allows Brad Stevens to take a somewhat novel approach to roster-building since he no longer needs to hoard assets for one big score. Instead, the Celtics can focus on smaller moves that add role players with upside as well as playoff experience.

Derrick White’s inclusion has quickly become the talk of the town in Boston and it is easy to see why. His team-first attitude, willingness to take on whatever role is asked of him and consistent production has helped the Celtics become one of the top teams in the NBA. As a result, he has earned high praise from coaches, players and fans alike.