I'll throw my 2 cents in here as someone who's been vocal about the trade being an overpay.
I'm thrilled he finally had a great shooting game. I think it's pretty safe to say that everyone who questioned the trade is happy with last night's performance. No one is rooting for this guy to fail. White failing to perform doesn't help this team get to a title at all so thinking that's what people want who were against paying what we paid is foolish. I've never considered him a stiff (a few others may have) but he was not performing up to what we needed from him nor to the value of what we paid. He still hasn't -- yet. Yes, last night he played better than we could have hoped from from the guys he replaced (not just Richardson and Romeo but Schroder as well since Schroder was moved because we now had White) but that's one game. His performance in the Miami series was solid for a few games but not otherworldly as some have put out there.
I'm hoping that's what we see from him the rest of the finals but in no way am I expecting that. For me, to justify that price we should be seeing 14-15 points a game, solid defense and about 4 assists per game. That's what this team needs from the first guard off the bench. To me, that's the level of play we should be getting every game for what we gave up. Last night was great. I really hope we see more of that level of performance.
The disconnect seems to be in how we rate what White actually is versus what the value is of what we gave up. I don't think we gave up anything of real value. Or should I say, anything that can't be easily replaced. And White simply is a different level of player as a J Rich, Romeo, and probably the picks too. Those guys are strictly role players that only do role player things if they have stars taking all the attention. White is so much more than that it's not even funny.
that's strictly your opinion and you're welcome to it. I disagree. until halfway through the Miami series, and certainly in the regular season, he didn't establish himself as a better player than Richardson when Richardson was here. in fact, as the season went on his performances were becoming even more of a concern.
You're talking like White is a high-level starter which he is not. Richardson is a solid role player. Schroder for all his faults is a rotation-quality player that can carry an offense on some nights. Romeo, though constantly injured, could defend and his offense was coming around. White was brought in to replace all of them so the expectation is he needs to produce what they were producing and he hasn't. very plain and simple. Last night was great. Thrilled to see him succeed last night and want to see him succeed every night but in no way has he been "so much more than that it's not even funny" because I found nothing humorous about his playing this season.
Your prob slam is you are basing everything in your evaluation of White on his shooting vs Richardson's shooting. This year was an aberation for both White and Richardson. Richardson is nowhere near a 41.5% three point shooter, just as White isn't a sub 30% three point shooter.
Let's not forget the guy was traded to a new team and had to move his very pregnant wife to a new city where she had to find new doctors and buy a new home to live in. That stuff can effect performance. Is it any wonder the best ball he has played here is after the birth of his son?
And you discount everything else White does better. He makes quick decisions versus Josh being a ball stopper. White is a much better passer and driver of the ball. White is a better and more versatile defender. Derrick scores more than Richardson, rebounds better than Richardson. He is better in every way.
Next year I think White returns to his usual 13/4/5 with 44/35/85 numbers after he helps win a title this year. If that happens there is little question Boston got the better of the deal.
This just reminds me of the Udoka evaluations. First few months everyone wanted to hang him. Give him proper time to get adjusted, Ime is now looked at as an amazing coach
Gotta let this all play out over a normal long term and stop making instant evals then sticking with those as White slowly gets adjusted and refinds his shot.
Lastly, let's not forget that pick swap has a more than 50% chance of being nothing and could be moved well ahead of 2028 making the whole point moot.