Competition in the Eastern Conference could look a lot different for next season.
Milwaukee Bucks guard Damian Lillard, Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum, and, most recently, Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton have all suffered torn Achilles tendons and are in danger of missing all of next year.
With this being said, the Toronto Raptors have been drawing headlines in what could be a news-worthy 2025 NBA Draft, and rumors say that they have been shopping their No. 9 overall pick in Wednesday's draft to get pieces that would help them emerge as a playoff-contending team.
Philadelphia 76ers
NBA at the Draft Lottery at McCormick Place West.
David Banks-Imagn Images
The Boston Celtics are one team that the Raptors contacted. Boston is coming off a season where the team was purchased by new ownership, and with that comes a new mindset, as they have some financial burdens to attend to.
Their current financial situation includes second-apron restrictions that come with penalties if unable to make the right moves to get under their salary cap threshold.
After trading both Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis in the days leading up to the 2025 NBA Draft, it seems that the Raptors are interested in another large contract on the Celtics' roster.
NBA Draft analyst Brett Siegel reported that the Toronto Raptors have been shopping their No. 9 pick in the draft and have targeted Celtics guard Derrick White.
"Sources say the Raptors created an offer based around the ninth pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. The expectation is that if Toronto was to swing a deal for [Derrick] White in the coming hours leading up to Wednesday's draft, they would do so with the involvement of other teams as part of a larger, multi-team trade," Siegel said in an article on Wednesday.
Boston Celtics guard Derrick White
Boston Celtics guard Derrick White
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White, 30, signed a four-year, $125.9 million deal with the Celtics last offseason that begins in the 2025-26 season. The deal includes a player option for the 2028-29 season.
After a year where White averaged the most points per game in 10-year career, there are rumors that believe he could be heading out of Boston before the draft begins on Wednesday night.