The Golden State Warriors need to make a move to maximize their limited title window around Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler, and Draymond Green.
The NBA Western Conference is as talented as it has ever been, and the Golden State Warriors, despite boasting Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler, and Draymond Green, are only in the middle of the pack.
Reeling from a second-round exit at the hands of the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Warriors are hoping a full offseason with Butler in The Bay will rejuvenate them, and a healthy postseason run next year could be in the cards.
However, the Warriors could always use more talent, and the Boston Celtics, who are expected to take a step back amid Jayson Tatum’s devastating injury and a dire financial situation, could bail out Golden State.
Derrick White named as Warriors’ possible trade target
The Celtics, who are well over the salary cap, are expected to trade away one of their better players for cheaper contracts. Jrue Holiday, Kristaps Porzingis, Derrick White, and even Jaylen Brown are all theoretically expendable, and the Celtics only need to trade one star to duck back under the aprons.
The Warriors could use more size in the starting lineup, making Porzingis a solid option, although Golden State was linked to a different star.
“Another guy that I think you should look at for the Warriors going forward is Derrick White,” said The Ringer’s Logan Murdock. “I think that’s something that the Warriors are looking at right now because Boston is expected in league circles to have some sort of fire sale.”
White is a proven winner and is willing to do the dirty work, fitting in well next to Green and Butler, and he can handle the ball in the backcourt next to Curry.
Part of the USA gold medal winning squad in Paris 2024, White is a prolific three point shooter, who scored nine threes in a game earlier this season.
However, Boston will still try to win championships after Tatum returns, and the Warriors will have to offer a competitive trade package.
Mock trade lands White in Golden State
The Warriors, in theory, have five first-round picks that they can trade and swap, as well as easy ways to balance White’s salary.
However, the Celtics are not interested in draft picks in 2029, they want to win as soon as Tatum comes back, and if they trade White will retain a core of Porzingis, Brown, Holiday, and Tatum, and will be looking for depth pieces to round out their roster.
Full mock trade details
Warriors receive: Derrick WhiteCeltics receive: Moses Moody, Buddy Hield, Brandin Podziemski
This deal saves Boston only $3.8 million next season, but will open up possibly $34.8 million in two years.
On top of that, Podziemski could eventually take over for Holiday, pending a developmental leap, and Moody and Hield would be able to dominate with the second unit led by Al Horford and Payton Pritchard, allowing Boston to compete next season.
While losing Podziemski might be a hard pill to swallow for Warriors fans, White is certainly an upgrade and would maximize the remaining window Curry and company have left, which is really all that matters in Golden State.
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