Speculative Mid-Season Query

[Ed Monix]

If Malcolm Brogdon is healthy, happy & productive as the Celtics 6th man…does that make Derrick White expendable?

I’m curious because their skill-sets somewhat overlap, and given White is on a reasonably priced, long term contract, he may become a valuable trade piece.

Teams looking to consolidate a playoff spot (Kings, Trailblazers, Pelicans) or making the jump to championship contender (Suns, Timberwolves, Clippers, Nuggets, Mavericks), would all love to have White in their starting lineup.

White could become very valuable for the Celtics before the trade deadline.

[tenn_smoothie]

Certainly see your point, but I think the more playmakers, the better, especially with this group who are all too willing to go iso when games get tight. Plus, Brogdon is injury prone and a backup means we can limit his minutes and replace him when he is out.

I do believe, however, that we desperately need a third big post player who is aggressive, has a mean streak and is a strong rebounder.
How we acquire this player, I'm not sure since it is not clear to me which of the possibilities are free agents or not.

[Csfan1984]

Because of injury concerns I'd say no. Brown, Smart and Brogdon are likely to miss time. It's great being able to rely on White. White could be playing every game 12 to 18 minutes as is. I know DA wouldn't care about injury concerns but BS seems to like insurance.

[Celtics2021]

Pritchard would have to make a substantial leap in terms of his playmaking for White to be expendable, in my opinion.  Of course Brogdon and White overlap a lot in their skillsets, but the reason Brogdon was acquired is because the team wanted more of that.  So you’d need someone else to provide more overlap as well for White to be expendable.

[Sophomore]

It’s an interesting question. I think the answer depends on who’s available in return. The trade has to be for a guy who can play next year and contribute deep in the playoffs, because that’s what you’re losing. They shouldn’t trade him just to clear space or salary - they’re all in.

I don’t think DW is going to appeal to rebuilding teams. He’s a connector - a complementary piece in the prime of his career. You’d need a team that’s looking to make a run and wants to rebalance a roster that’s a little too full in the front court. That’s not a common situation, and it’s harder still to trade with a competitor.

In the East, maybe Toronto? Chris Boucher for White? I can make an argument but Toronto seems to really like Boucher. Detroit might think they’re close but I don’t see a player I love for the Cs on that team (Saddiq Bay only shoots lights out against us; on the whole he’s a bricklayer).

I don’t know the western conference teams as well.

[Goldstar88]

If Malcolm Brogdon is healthy, happy & productive as the Celtics 6th man…does that make Derrick White expendable?

I’m curious because their skill-sets somewhat overlap, and given White is on a reasonably priced, long term contract, he may become a valuable trade piece.

Teams looking to consolidate a playoff spot (Kings, Trailblazers, Pelicans) or making the jump to championship contender (Suns, Timberwolves, Clippers, Nuggets, Mavericks), would all love to have White in their starting lineup.

White could become very valuable for the Celtics before the trade deadline.

I doubt it, like others have said, Brogdon, Smart, and Brown miss time every year due to injury and then we still have deal with players missing time due to Covid. I also think Whites value will be low being a full time backup. His numbers are going to go down this year with the addition of Brogdon.

[jambr380]

If Malcolm Brogdon is healthy, happy & productive as the Celtics 6th man…does that make Derrick White expendable?

I’m curious because their skill-sets somewhat overlap, and given White is on a reasonably priced, long term contract, he may become a valuable trade piece.

Teams looking to consolidate a playoff spot (Kings, Trailblazers, Pelicans) or making the jump to championship contender (Suns, Timberwolves, Clippers, Nuggets, Mavericks), would all love to have White in their starting lineup.

White could become very valuable for the Celtics before the trade deadline.

I doubt it, like others have said, Brogdon, Smart, and Brown miss time every year due to injury and then we still have deal with players missing time due to Covid. I also think Whites value will be low being a full time backup. His numbers are going to go down this year with the addition of Brogdon.

Yeah, my biggest issue with the OPs question isn't that White might be expendable, but that his value will be too low. He is paid a lot of money and is at best our 7th man, but could easily bump down to 9 depending on how Grant/Gallo perform.

If another team wants to trade us a productive player for White, then I think we need to jump on it. I get that there will be injuries and such, but finding a 4th/5th guard shouldn't be that difficult. One of the biggest reasons we lost in the Finals was because our bench was awful - White was a big part of that. Brogdon is essentially a better version of White.

[Roy H.]

It depends what we’re getting back.  For instance, I’d rather have a starting PF than a backup swing, so I’d move White for Barnes or Collins.

[Vermont Green]

I am an engineer so my take on this may not be easy for everyone to follow but value can be absolute and relative.  I believe that White has good absolute value around the league.  He is a starting level player with versatility and not an outrageous contract.  We could trade him if we wanted to.

Adding Brogdon to the team does not change his absolute value but it does change his relative value to the Celtics.  How does White's current value to the Celtics compare to the value to the Celtics of some other player.  If we traded White for a big wing (for example) who had exactly the same absolute value, the big wing has more value to us right now.

So bottom line, yes, adding Brogdon does make it easier for us to trade White.  We have a surplus at Combo guard and a shortage at wing.  We also have injury vulnerability in the big rotation.  All that can change of course but that is how it stands right now heading into the season.

I see it as very unlikely that White gets traded anytime soon.  But as the season progresses and the trade deadline is approached, more likely.  If he is traded, it will be to bring back a player to address a specific need, a need that may not even be a need right now,

[nickagneta]

It depends what we’re getting back.  For instance, I’d rather have a starting PF than a backup swing, so I’d move White for Barnes or Collins.

This.

[Ed Monix]

This is obviously all dependent on Brogdon’s health. I have noticed a trend with him though, as his minutes go up, his games played goes down.

I believe (hope) that with a 6th man role and capped minutes, Brogdon can consistently play at an elite level.

As others have mentioned, Derrick White would only be flipped for roster needs elsewhere.

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Celtics: Harrison Barnes

Kings: Derrick White

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Celtics: Gordon Hayward, Jeff Green

Hornets: Derrick White, Luke Kornet, Sam Hauser

Nuggets: Danilo Gallinari

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Celtics: Terance Mann, Brandon Boston Jr, Reggie Jackson

Clippers: Derrick White, future Celtics 1st round pick