Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors and Al Horford and Derrick White of the Boston Celtics.
Getty
Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors and Al Horford and Derrick White of the Boston Celtics.
The Golden State Warriors have been connected to a wide range of trade targets this season, but one name continues popping up from insiders: Derrick White.
Dan Favale of Bleacher Report highlighted White as one of the top names Golden State should be watching, calling him a perfect “kitchen-sink” target for any team operating on the Stephen Curry timeline. And with the Warriors exploring ways to get more out of a roster that hasn’t fully clicked, the possibility naturally comes back into focus.
Why Derrick White Fits What the Warriors Need
Golden State has cycled through multiple backcourt partners for Curry. Some nights it’s Brandin Podziemski. Others it’s Moses Moody or Buddy Hield. None of the combinations have fully settled.
White is the kind of guard who brings immediate stability.
Greg Swartz of Bleacher Report outlined the case clearly: White brings elite point-of-attack defense, rim protection rare for his position, efficient decision-making, and the ability to space the floor without needing touches. He’s also a proven playoff guard with championship equity — the exact traits the Warriors have been searching for.
And, at 31, White still fits the Warriors’ competitive window far better than most available guards. He’s not a long-term rebuild piece. He’s a win-right-now piece.
A Clean Backcourt Fit Next to Curry
Swartz went as far as to call White the perfect partner for a 37-year-old Curry — someone who can take the toughest guard assignments and help orchestrate the offense without bogging down spacing.
White’s defensive profile speaks for itself:
Two-time All-Defensive Second Team
Elite rim protector for a guard
Capable of switching across three positions
Reliable in both switching and drop coverages
The Warriors haven’t had that type of guard defender since peak Klay Thompson.
Where Boston Stands on Derrick White
Derrick White
GettyDerrick White is one of the best two-way players in the NBA today.
The challenge? The Boston Celtics aren’t eager to negotiate.
Jake Fischer has reported that Boston would only consider moving White for a blockbuster-level return — something in the range of what the New York Knicks paid for Mikal Bridges. Teams have already floated two first-round picks plus a swap, but Boston passed.
Boston’s situation also looks very different than many expected. They’re 14–9, have gone 8–2 in their last 10, and sit fifth in the East despite losing Jayson Tatum for the season with an Achilles injury. What was supposed to be a retooling year near the bottom of the conference has turned into a showcase of depth and resilience. White and Jaylen Brown have carried a massive load, and the Celtics look capable of making real noise in the East with or without Tatum.
Because of that, Boston’s stance has been consistent. Mike Zarren has made it clear: the organization views White as a foundational piece, not someone they’re eager to shop.
Still, the NBA is fluid. If the Celtics decide to tweak their roster construction around Tatum’s eventual return or explore long-term flexibility, White’s contract, production and playoff resume give him league-wide value. And should Boston ever open the door even slightly, the Warriors are one of the few teams positioned to make a legitimate, competitive offer.
What the Warriors Can Actually Offer
This is where things get interesting.
The Warriors can trade up to four first-round picks
They have Jonathan Kuminga, who becomes trade-eligible on January 15
They have moveable contracts in Buddy Hield, Moses Moody, and others
The franchise is openly trying to maximize what remains of the Curry window
If Golden State truly decides White is the missing piece — the stabilizer, the connector, the guard who allows Curry and Jimmy Butler to conserve energy — they have the tools to enter serious talks.
And they’ve thought about it before.
Why the Warriors Won’t Ignore This Opportunity
Derrick White is one of the best two-way guards in the league and exactly the profile that impacts winning at every level. He takes the toughest perimeter matchups and handles them with discipline. He operates cleanly next to Curry, cutting, relocating and keeping the offense flowing. His shooting keeps the floor spaced, and his feel for the game allows him to elevate any lineup he’s in without shifting the team’s identity.
For the Warriors — a group trying to maximize Curry’s window while staying realistic about what the roster needs — that blend of defense, IQ and reliability is the kind of upgrade that actually moves the needle.
Golden State won’t chase a deal if Boston refuses to entertain offers, but they’ll stay alert. They’ll keep themselves in range. Because if White ever becomes available, the Warriors are one of the few teams with both the assets to make a real bid and the on-court ecosystem where he could thrive immediately.