The Boston Celtics are heading into the 2025 offseason with tough roster decisions looming, and financial pressures could force President of Basketball Operations Brad Stevens to make some blockbuster moves. Rumors are swirling that key players like Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday might be on the trading block to shed salary, but even bigger shocks could be in store. Once considered near-untouchable, stars like Jaylen Brown and Derrick White are now generating trade buzz, and a wild new idea from The Athletic’s Es Baraheni has the NBA world talking: Could Derrick White return to the San Antonio Spurs?
On a recent episode of The Kevin O’Connor Show, Baraheni floated a bold hypothetical. “What if the Spurs just say, ‘Can we get Derrick White back?’” he proposed. “Thank you guys for developing him into a fringe All-Star player. His jumper is now fixed, and we love the fact that he is basically a lights-out shooter. He fits incredibly well as an off-ball player to De’Aaron Fox.” Baraheni’s vision paints White as the perfect fit for San Antonio’s system, highlighting his seamless integration into their timeline and playing style.
The Spurs, who hold a 2028 pick swap with Boston from the original White trade, could dangle assets like the No. 14 pick in the 2025 draft or additional pieces to sweeten the deal. Baraheni even went as far as comparing a potential White trade to a Kevin Durant blockbuster, arguing, “I would do the version of whatever the Kevin Durant trade is and do it for Derrick White over Durant just because I think White is such a perfect fit.”
However, prying White—a $118 million two-way superstar and one of the league’s most valuable players—away from Boston won’t come cheap. Stevens is well aware of White’s elite defensive prowess and offensive versatility, and a package centered around the No. 14 pick is unlikely to move the needle. Even adding players like Devin Vassell or Keldon Johnson, who have surfaced in Durant trade rumors, wouldn’t likely be enough to tempt Boston, especially when paired with a mid-first-rounder.
If San Antonio were to offer the No. 2 overall pick, that might grab Stevens’ attention, but the Spurs are highly unlikely to part with such a valuable asset. While Baraheni’s idea is creative and sparks intrigue, it feels like a long shot given Boston’s high valuation of White. A mammoth offer would be required to make the Celtics consider parting with their star guard, and for now, a reunion in San Antonio remains a tantalizing but improbable dream.
As the offseason unfolds, Stevens’ phone will undoubtedly keep ringing with inquiries about White, Brown, and others. Whether the Spurs can craft an offer compelling enough to bring White back home is uncertain, but one thing is clear: the NBA landscape could be in for a seismic shift if Boston’s roster shakeup comes to fruition.