The Boston Celtics, fresh off a rollercoaster offseason, sent shockwaves through the NBA by rejecting a bold trade proposal from the Toronto Raptors that could have reshaped their roster. Despite entering the summer with a focus on trimming costs after a disappointing second-round playoff exit to the New York Knicks in 2025, the Celtics stood firm in their commitment to their core, turning down a blockbuster offer for two of their most vital players: Derrick White and Jrue Holiday.
According to ESPN’s Zach Lowe, the Raptors made a daring move to acquire Derrick White, offering their No. 9 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. The proposal came shortly after Jayson Tatum’s injury rattled Boston’s plans, but the Celtics didn’t flinch. “I’m told that’s true,” Lowe revealed on June 26, “but Boston laughed at that offer and said, ‘We need way more than No. 9 for Derrick White.’” The Celtics’ front office clearly viewed White, a versatile and clutch guard, as untouchable at that price.
White, who joined Boston in 2022 via a trade with the San Antonio Spurs, has solidified himself as a cornerstone of the Celtics’ backcourt. That deal, which sent Josh Richardson, Romeo Langford, a 2022 first-round pick (used to draft Blake Wesley), and a 2028 pick swap to San Antonio, continues to pay dividends for Boston. White’s new four-year, $118 million contract, set to begin in the 2025–26 season, underscores his value as a two-way star who helped lead the Celtics to their 2024 NBA championship.
But White wasn’t the only Celtics guard Toronto had their eyes on. NBA insider Jake Fischer dropped another bombshell, revealing that the Raptors also targeted Jrue Holiday with the same No. 9 pick. “Toronto was calling for the number nine pick for Jrue and for Derrick,” Fischer reported. However, Boston showed little interest in parting with either veteran, signaling their confidence in the duo’s ability to keep the team competitive.
Toronto, undeterred by Boston’s rejection, held onto their draft pick and selected forward Collin Murray-Boyles, a promising talent who could bolster their young core. Meanwhile, the Celtics made waves of their own this offseason, opting for a different kind of shake-up. In a surprising move, both Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis were traded following Boston’s playoff loss—a stark contrast to their championship triumph just a year prior.
The decision to hold onto White while moving Holiday and Porzingis reflects Boston’s calculated approach to balancing cost-cutting with championship aspirations. White’s ability to guard multiple positions, hit timely shots, and elevate the team’s chemistry has made him indispensable. As the Celtics gear up for the 2025–26 season, all eyes will be on White to anchor their backcourt and prove that Boston’s faith in him was worth more than a top-10 draft pick.