NBA fans never want to trade a guy when he's playing well and actually has trade value, but they sure as heck want to dump a guy once he's playing poorly and his trade value has plummeted.

A classic example of that was the Rockets trade ideas we heard less than a month ago on various podcasts/blogs. The idea being VanVleet was injured, Rockets were now desperate for competent guards, and a Tatumless Celtics might be willing to move Derrick White for a haul that would help the Rockets contend.

Lowe and Simmons talked about it extensively about how maybe the Rockets would throw a "boatload of assets" at Boston. Interesting listening to that podcast again just a few weeks later: https://youtu.be/Txx0LWdNn44?si=gDCQHz05-1BZxirN&t=1585

Simmons starts by asking if they could trade Reed Sheppard (last year's #3 pick, but discussed as a "project") for Pritchard.

They go on talk about how White is a "top 50 player" and "different caliber of dude" and if Boston traded him they'd need some "serious shit back" like the future Phoenix 1st, Reed Sheppard, and other picks. Lowe agrees that Boston would "demand a shitload" like Sheppard + 3 firsts… "justifiably", he says.

Any time this was brought up here, people relentlessly dumped on the idea acting like Sheppard was trash and there's no way that was enough for White. I even suggested an idea that could shave 10 mil off our books this season by moving White + Simons and taking back VanVleet, Sheppard and Jabari Smith Jr, but that idea was hated too.

Crazy how quickly narratives change and the groupthink shifts. Seeing so many fans giving up on White just 16 games into the season. Now the 31 year old White is shooting 35% from the field and 29% from three. Meanwhile, 21 year old Sheppard has been averaging 13.5 points, 3 assists, 2.6 rebounds, 1.5 steals with lights out 49%/47% shooting (per-36 of 20 points, 5 assists, 2.4 steals). Seemingly getting better every night.

On a day when White put up 6 points, with 2-13 shooting/1-7 from three… Reed Sheppard dropped 27 points with 9-13 shooting/5-8 from three.

Probably would have been fun watching a prospect like Reed improve all season during the gap year. Rockets seem to be winning just fine, though. At this point, the idea that they'd give up a blue chip prospect like Sheppard and multiple 1sts for White seems ridiculous to me in retrospect, but I'm curious if you guys have changed your opinion.

Maybe we'll look back on this in a month and White will have gone on a tear while Reed has slumped and everyone will decide they hate the idea again.

10 comments

  3. >NBA fans never want to trade a guy when he’s playing well and actually has trade value

    Derrick White this summer. I love the guy but the amount of “untouchable” for a 31 year old was wild. Probably the same morons that wanted to get rid of Pritchard for peanuts because he “deserved more playing time somewhere else”

  4. Scale it back. Simons for Vanfleet and a pick or two makes more sense.

    Much simpler, less risk for both teams, both teams improve. 

  6. I’d rather they ship Simons and keep White. The Rockets could use Simons. But you have a point.

  7. Derrick White has played like 400 or so games for us at an absurdly high level and has been incredible this season on defense. I’m gonna say the groupthink is very clearly off here lmao.

  8. We have lost the plot if we’re propping up Shepphard’s play-finishing yet dinging DWhite for having to take on an offense-initiating, shot-creation role that we knew he wasn’t particularly good at going back to his days on those mid Spurs teams.

    I worry about DWhite’s age and how many good years he’ll have left once Tatum is healthy, but I have no reservations regarding DWhite’s effectiveness on a team with requisite star power. Elite complementary player. Shepphard is getting better, and that’s great for him, but he isn’t ready to contribute to winning in a way that augments stars the way DWhite is. His connective playmaking on offense and his versatility on defense are special. Once Tatum comes back, our window is now, so I’d still rather have DWhite, no doubt.

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