Jaylen Brown isn’t the only Celtics player seeing his name in trade rumors.
Veteran guard Derrick White has drawn “strong interest” from the Minnesota Timberwolves, according to a report Friday from The Athletic’s Sam Amick.
It’s unclear whether the Celtics have any intention of shopping White, a defensive stalwart who has started all but 20 games for them over the last three seasons.
White was a first-team All-Defensive selection this season and received a handful of All-NBA votes after posting career highs in points (16.5), assists (5.4), blocks (1.3) and steals (1.1) per game. His 98 blocked shots — as a 6-foot-4 guard — ranked 13th among all NBA players.
Shooting efficiency was a major issue for White, however, as he shot a career-worst 39.4% from the field and 32.7% from 3-point range while assuming a larger offensive role in the absence of injured top scorer Jayson Tatum. White’s shooting woes became even more acute in Boston’s first-round playoff series against Philadelphia, during which he shot 32.1% and 27.3% from deep over seven games.
White, who turns 32 in July, has three years and nearly $100 million remaining on his contract, including a player option for 2028-29. He is set to make $30.3 million this coming season, the Celtics’ third-highest salary behind Jayson Tatum’s $58.5 million and Brown’s $57.1 million.
The Timberwolves, who lost to San Antonio in the Western Conference semifinals this season after consecutive trips to the West finals, have questions at guard outside of franchise centerpiece Anthony Edwards. Donte DiVincenzo will miss most or all of the upcoming season after tearing his Achilles in May, and backups Ayo Dosunmu and Bones Hyland are impending free agents.
Minnesota has said it hopes to re-sign Dosunmu, but the trade-deadline pickup should have a strong market after impressing in the postseason.
As for who the Wolves could offer in a potential package for White, they have four veterans set to make between $23 million and $36 million in 2026-27: Naz Reid, Jaden McDaniels, Julius Randle and Rudy Gobert. Reid, a smooth-shooting big man who turns 27 this summer, could be an intriguing Celtics target as they work to fortify their frontcourt.
Amick’s report also included intel on Brown, whose future in Boston is cloudy as the Celtics mull a potential blockbuster trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo. Per Amick’s sources, the Portland Trail Blazers — a possible third team in an Antetokounmpo-to-Boston deal — “would have serious interest in Brown if the Celtics made him available.”