In a hypothetical trade that would send shockwaves through the NBA, the Boston Celtics and Denver Nuggets could swap two of the league’s premier role players: Derrick White heading home to Colorado in exchange for Aaron Gordon.
While the deal might appear intriguing on paper, it is not one the Celtics should entertain. The primary concern lies in Aaron Gordon’s troubling durability issues, which have become too significant to overlook at this stage of his career.
Last season, Gordon appeared in just 36 regular-season games for the Nuggets. Even in the playoffs, his availability was severely limited, as he suited up for only three of six contests in Denver’s first-round exit against the Minnesota Timberwolves. For a player entering his 30s, these recurring availability questions raise major red flags.
Gordon’s Impact When Healthy
When on the court, the former No. 4 overall pick remains a high-level contributor on both ends of the floor. Defensively, he can anchor a unit and take on the toughest assignments, including guarding elite bigs like Victor Wembanyama. Gordon held his own in that matchup during a late-season win over the San Antonio Spurs.
Offensively, he forms a dangerous trio alongside Nikola Jokić and Jamal Murray. Gordon shot 43.5% from the corner on 1.3 three-point attempts per game. Whether spotting up or operating from the dunker spot, he forces defenses into difficult decisions — if help comes to protect the rim, he becomes a lethal lob threat.
Boston Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens has emphasized the need for greater rim impact and easier creation of high-quality looks in the postseason. In theory, Gordon could help address those areas. However, his inability to consistently stay healthy makes that potential upside far less reliable.
Contract and Age Considerations
Gordon, who will turn 31 in September, has three years and $103.6 million remaining on his contract, including a $37.1 million player option for the 2028-29 season (his age-33 campaign). White’s deal carries a similar structure with three years remaining and a player option in the final year. The hesitation to make this trade isn’t driven by salary differences, but by dependability.
Why Derrick White Is the Better Long-Term Bet
In a season where Gordon battled injuries, White delivered elite consistency and impact. The Celtics guard played in 77 games and earned NBA All-Defensive First Team honors. He has not appeared in fewer than 73 games since the 2020-21 season.
White stands out as the premier rim protector among guards in the league. When allowed to roam, he excels at protecting the basket. He finished third in defensive win shares this past season, recorded 98 blocks and 88 steals — the first Celtic to reach those combined totals since Kevin Garnett in 2007-08, when Garnett won Defensive Player of the Year.
Offensively, White endured a down shooting year from three-point range, but that appears to be an outlier. He has shot above 38% from beyond the arc in each of the previous three seasons. He also averaged 5.4 assists against just 1.7 turnovers while handling increased ball-handling responsibilities, along with 1.1 offensive rebounds per game. A bounce-back shooting campaign is a reasonable expectation.
Though White is one year older than Gordon, his reliability and sustained performance as an elite role player make him the superior asset for a contending team like the Celtics.
Final Verdict
The proposed trade — sending a Colorado native back home in exchange for a talented but increasingly fragile veteran — carries understandable appeal. However, the Celtics would be wise to decline. In today’s NBA, where playoff success often hinges on availability and defensive versatility, trading a durable, All-Defensive caliber guard like Derrick White for a player with Gordon’s recent injury history would be an unnecessary risk.
For Boston, preserving the proven dependability of White outweighs the tantalizing but uncertain upside Gordon could bring when healthy.