The Boston Celtics traded for Derrick White in the summer of 2022 and signed him to a four-year $118 million contract in the summer of 2024.
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BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - JUNE 21: Derrick White #9 of the Boston Celtics reacts during the 2024 Boston Celtics championship parade following their 2024 NBA Finals win on June 21, 2024 in Boston, Massachusetts.
TheBoston Celtics made a bold move in trading forDerrick White from theSan Antonio Spurs in 2022.But itturned out to pay off, as hewas a key piece on their championship team in 2024, and since arriving in Boston, he has elevatedalmost all of his statistical categories.
The Celtics’ move for White proved to beextremely beneficial, especially after he was ranked as one of the most underrated players in the NBA since 2020,according to Bleacher Report.
“White used to be one of those players with whom you’d need to go beyond the box score to appreciate. Not anymore,” Dan Favale wrote. “He leads allnon-All-Stars in VORP since 2020-21, during which time theonly player with as many assists (1,552) and blocks (337) isGiannis Antetokounmpo.”
Since 2020, White has averaged 14.5 points, 4.6 assists, 4.2 rebounds, one block, and 0.9 steals per game on43.% field goal shooting and 36%shooting from three.
White’s Gone Under The Radar
As Favale mentions, White’s status as one of the most underrated players in the NBA since 2020 goes beyond just his counting statistics. He has been one of the top defensive guards in the league, and though it hasn’t led to any All-NBA awards, the pressure he brings on that side of the ball istop-tier.
For the Celtics, White has turned into one of their best all-around players. This past season, he ranked second on the team in assists and blocks, third in minutes, and fourth in scoring. BehindJayson Tatum andJaylen Brown, White was the only Boston player to average at least 15 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per game last year.
“Defense used to be his primary calling card,” Favale added. “He has spent the better part of the past half-decade leveling up his offense to feature better decision-making out of drives, much-improved three-point shooting and leveled-up playmaking, not purely as a connective ball-mover but also an initiator.”
While his numbers on Boston’s team last season were the best of his career, especially considering the talent he was surrounded by, it isn’t just one season that puts him second on the ‘most underrated players since 2020’ list.His consistent play while contributing towinning is something that can’t be said fora lot of other playersmaking his type of money around the league.
White Apart Of Celtics’ Future
AfterTatum’s Achilles injury in the playoffs, Boston’s plans for the future took amajor turn.
Over the offseason, they traded away big names likeJrue Holiday andKristaps Porzingis, while they lostLuke Kornet andAl Horford in free agency. Now, without Tatum, the Celtics are set to have a roster highlighted by White, Brown,Payton Pritchard,Anfernee Simons, andSam Hauser, along with a few other fringe big men.
Most recently, Boston made multiple moves more than a month into the offseason inhopes of staying competitive withouttheir main star. They traded Georges Niang and two second-round picks for rookie RJ Luis Jr.,as well as adding Chris Boucher in free agency.
Things will be different in Boston next year, but after all of their roster turnover, them keeping White proves his value. They had big trade offers for him, but had aneven more expensive asking price.However, chose to keep the star, not onlyfor the reason that he signed afour-year $118 million contract with the team last summer, but because he has been an impactful presence on their team.
The NBA has finally seemed to notice White’s ability, but the Celtics noticed it years ago and expect him to remain as a top contributor while they rebuild forwhen Tatum returns healthy.