Celtics reportedly eyeing Derrick White trade as luxury tax purge continues

Celtics' tax purge might not be finished yet

The Boston Celtics already sent shockwaves through the league this offseason by dealing Jaylen Brown to the Philadelphia 76ers as part of a broader effort to duck out of the luxury tax's second apron. Now, according to insider chatter, that housecleaning could have another victim and this time it's someone fans never expected to see mentioned in trade talk: Derrick White.

The second apron has become the boogeyman of modern roster building, forcing even title contenders to make brutal financial choices. For Boston, that meant parting with Brown. The question now is whether White's name gets added to that list next.

Why Derrick White's name is suddenly in the mix

On a recent episode of the Locked on Celtics podcast, SI's John Karalis laid out the case for why White's job security in Boston isn't guaranteed, even with everything he brings to the table on and off the court.

"When a guy is 32, makes more than $30 million, and he's coming off a bad shooting season, it's fair to start wondering what's next. I'm not worried about Derrick White this season, but also, the second apron spares no one," Karalis said.

• White is 32 years old and carries a salary north of $30 million
• He just finished a season marked by inconsistent shooting
• Boston already moved Jaylen Brown to create financial flexibility
• The second apron rules could force more hard decisions regardless of a player's value

Even the doubters admit his talent is undeniable

What makes this trade speculation sting a bit more is that even the people raising the alarm don't want to see White go. Karalis was quick to praise the guard's overall game, calling him one of the most well-rounded players he's evaluated.

"I can tell you I don't want this to be the conversation because I think Derrick White is like a damn near perfect basketball player. He's not the best on the team for sure. He's not going to be like an MVP candidate, but I just think that Derrick White… Man, I don't know if I've had a higher opinion about a person's basketball ability," he added.

Not everyone in Boston's camp is worried

While front-office math is spooking analysts, the locker room and the fanbase seem to be taking a very different tone. Longtime Celtics superfan Mark Wahlberg chose to look at the bright side of an otherwise turbulent offseason, one that has left plenty of fans frustrated with president of basketball operations Brad Stevens over the Brown trade.

"I think they'll do better to really now have an opportunity for Jayson Tatum to show what he can do," Wahlberg told SI. "Jaylen Brown showed us what he could do last year in carrying the team while Tatum was out. I think now it's an opportunity for Tatum to do the same."

That optimism appears to be backed up on the practice court. Boston recently held a minicamp in California with most of its key pieces in attendance, and according to Payton Pritchard in an interview with CLNS' Bobby Manning, Tatum is looking as sharp as ever heading into the new season.

What it means going forward

For now, there's no indication a Derrick White trade is imminent but the fact that his name is even part of the conversation shows just how seriously Boston is treating the second apron threat. Losing Brown was one thing; losing White too would signal a much deeper roster overhaul than fans initially expected.

The Celtics enter this season leaning heavily on Jayson Tatum to reclaim the spotlight, with the front office keeping every option — including trading a near-perfect two-way guard on the table.

One thing's for certain: how Boston handles the White situation will say a lot about whether this roster shakeup is truly over — or just getting started.