The Boston Celtics, fresh off their record-setting 19th NBA championship in 2024 and a stellar 61-win season in 2025, faced a financial guillotine: the NBA’s dreaded “second apron” payroll limit. With harsh penalties looming, president of basketball operations Brad Stevens had no choice but to dismantle the core of a team that had just cemented its place in history. The Celtics, boasting an NBA-record 15 seasons with at least 60 wins, including 64 in 2023-2024, were forced to make gut-wrenching moves to stay under the cap. But in a stroke of genius, Stevens may have pulled off a masterclass in roster management by offloading one of the team’s most burdensome contracts—Derrick White’s $118 million deal—potentially to a playoff contender desperate for his talents.
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The Salary Cap Bloodbath
The Celtics’ championship roster was already bleeding talent. Center Kristaps Porzingis and veteran guard Jrue Holiday were traded, while backup center Luke Kornet walked in free agency. Power forward Al Horford, another free agent, seems unlikely to return as Boston struggles to meet his salary demands while dodging the second apron’s restrictions. To make matters worse, superstar Jayson Tatum, a four-time All-NBA First Teamer, will miss the entire 2025-2026 season with a torn Achilles tendon. His $54.1 million salary, however, will still count against the cap, tightening the financial noose around Stevens’ neck.
With roster flexibility at stake, Stevens needed to shed more payroll—and fast. Enter Derrick White, the beloved 6-foot-4 guard who became a cornerstone of Boston’s success since being acquired from the San Antonio Spurs in 2022. White, coming off the best season of his career, is set to begin a four-year, $118 million contract, with $28.1 million due in 2025-2026. For a team teetering on the edge of the second apron, that’s a hefty price tag for a player who, while excellent, isn’t the franchise’s centerpiece.
A Controversial Proposal
Boston Globe columnist Christopher Gasper dropped a bombshell suggestion in his recent piece, “A Case for Trading Derrick White.” Acknowledging the inevitable fan backlash, Gasper argued, “This offseason dictates uncomfortable choices. No one wants to part with White. However, the Celtics still need to slough off more salary, and White’s value is likely never to be higher.” The idea of trading White, a fan favorite who helped Boston reach the NBA Finals twice and the Eastern Conference Finals three times in four seasons, feels like sacrilege. But in the cold calculus of the NBA’s salary cap, it’s a move that could save the Celtics from financial ruin.
Gasper’s logic is hard to dismiss. White’s contract, while earned through his stellar play, is a massive commitment for a team already stretched thin. Trading him now, when his stock is at its peak, could net Boston a haul of assets while freeing up $28.1 million in cap space for 2025-2026. The question is: who would take on such a deal?
Houston’s Tempting Offer
Enter the Houston Rockets, a team with championship aspirations and a coach who knows White’s value all too well. Ime Udoka, who coached White during Boston’s 2022 Finals run and worked with him as an assistant in San Antonio, is reportedly eager to reunite with the versatile guard. The Rockets, coming off a second-seed finish in the Western Conference last season, are in win-now mode after acquiring future Hall-of-Famer Kevin Durant in a blockbuster trade. With Durant turning 37 at the start of the 2025-2026 season, Houston is under pressure to maximize their championship window.
The Rockets have the draft capital to make a deal work. They hold multiple first-round picks in 2027 (including Phoenix’s unprotected first-rounder) and 2029 (the most favorable of their own, Dallas’, and Phoenix’s). According to CBS Sports, the Celtics have signaled that any trade for White would need to match the haul Brooklyn received for Mikal Bridges: four unprotected first-round picks, a 2028 pick swap, and additional first- and second-round picks in 2025. For Houston, parting with a significant chunk of their future for White could be the final piece in their championship puzzle.
Stevens’ Sly Maneuver
If Stevens pulls off this trade, it would be a masterstroke. Not only would the Celtics shed White’s $118 million contract, but they’d also gain a treasure trove of draft picks to rebuild around their core. While losing White stings, Boston’s depth and young talent—combined with the flexibility gained by staying under the second apron—could keep them competitive in the East. Meanwhile, Houston, banking on White’s chemistry with Udoka and his fit alongside Durant, might see him as the key to unlocking a title run.
The beauty of Stevens’ strategy lies in its audacity. By leveraging White’s peak value and Udoka’s familiarity, Boston could trick a playoff contender into absorbing a contract that, while not terrible, is a luxury they can no longer afford. Celtics fans may hate it, but in the brutal world of NBA finances, Stevens’ willingness to make tough calls could keep Boston’s championship window open for years to come.