Celtics’ Derrick White Floated As Trade Fit For Rockets

The Boston Celtics and Houston Rockets are two franchises with some things in common. Beyond the fact that Boston’s former head coach, Ime Udoka, now coaches Houston, the Rockets are in the process of trying to replicate Boston’s blueprint of building a perennial winner around a pair of young stars.

Whereas Boston has done that with Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, developing both guys since they were teenagers, the Rockets are thrilled about the joint future of Alperen Şengün and Amen Thompson.

It’s worth reminding readers — before talking about anything else Rockets-related — that Houston has also added Kevin Durant to the mix for 2025-26, setting themselves up for real contention this season as Boston undergoes what’s expected to be a gap year without Tatum.

Unfortunately for Udoka and Co., those contention plans took a considerable hit this week with news that veteran guard Fred VanVleet tore his ACL, which will presumably keep him out for the entire season.

And as The Ringer’s Bill Simmons and Zach Lowe reacted to the news in the form of brainstorming trade ideas for Houston to replace VanVleet with another guard, the Celtics emerged as a potential trade partner in what would be widely seen as a horrible development in the eyes of Boston fans.

“Do you throw a boatload of assets at the Celtics for Derrick White?” Lowe asked Simmons during a new episode of The Bill Simmons Podcast, referring to the Rockets.

“I (would) need … (a lot) back for Derrick White,” Simmons replied. “That Phoenix (Suns first-round) pick … in 2027, that’s coming back. Like, you’re giving me real stuff … and if you’re Houston, I don’t know what the price is. I think (Reed) Sheppard probably has to be in it, too. But if you’re Houston, and you basically turn this VanVleet disaster into Derrick White with some of your picks, and you make a real run at this year, could you actually win the title with Derrick White? I think it’s a real question.”

“(White is) a top-50 player,” Simmons continued. “This is a different caliber of dude.”

Simmons ultimately stated that a proper return for White would be something like three first-round picks and a young player (perhaps Sheppard).

However, both Simmons and Lowe ultimately agreed that Boston would be extremely hesitant to trade White, even under the above circumstances. White, 31, is under contract with the Celtics for another three seasons, followed by a $34.8 million player option in 2028-29.

It’s highly unlikely that White won’t be wearing a Celtics uniform through that timeframe, and possibly beyond.