What better way to elevate yourself to a contender than prospering off the impending demise of your franchise's all-time biggest rival? That is what the Los Angeles Lakers should be telling themselves.
With a devastating Achilles injury set to keep Jayson Tatum out for the foreseeable future and a hefty payroll issue for the Boston Celtics, this should be a busy offseason in Beantown. Shams Charania previously explained the expectation is 'some level of change to come to the Celtics from their roster.'
"Sources have been telling me for weeks now that the Celtics will be exploring trade options in the offseason," Charania highlighted in early May. "This team, this iteration just is not going to be sustainable for [Boston]."
With this season's entire starting lineup slated to collect at least $28 million on each of their individual contracts next season, it is a fair assessment to believe there will be multiple pieces on the move this summer. This offers the Lakers an opportunity to land a perfect trade acquisition in Derrick White.
Lakers must consider paying necessary cost for White to fix defensive issues
It can be reasonably assumed that Boston will not be looking to part with either Tatum or Jaylen Brown. Although, the latter has crept into trade rumors of late.
“Boston is home. I've been here for 10 years of my life… there's a lot of love and genuine connection.”
— jb (@lockedupjb) May 25, 2025
— Jaylen Brown on what Boston means to himpic.twitter.com/s4DFSv3cIq
Assuming the Celtics continue to build any future iterations of the team around their duo of Jays, that would leave White, Kristaps Porzingis, and Jrue Holiday to be on the chopping block for their cap issues. Out of those three, it is abundantly clear which is the most attractive addition for any team.
Holiday is still a good player, but his decline is obvious to anyone watching. When coupling that with the fact that the two-time NBA champion is set to earn over $100 million over the next three years of his deal, that is something any team with ambitions of being a contender cannot tie themselves to.
The idea of adding Porzingis to the Lakers is intriguing. However, it does come with its fair share of injury concerns. White, on the other hand, would be a perfect trade target for the Lakers due to a long list of reasons.
While the need for a center is the Lakers' most obvious issue, adding perimeter defense is certainly on the list of desirables. White missed out on All-Defensive Team honors this season, but a career-high defensive win shares (3.4) in 2024-25 suggest the Celtics star still being very capable.
White could provide the Lakers with a highly desirable go-to perimeter defender that should take a lot of pressure off the rest of the team. Having someone to challenge the other team's best players on the perimeter would help mask the issues of other Lakers players and help fuel an elite unit.
The complimentary skill set of the Celtics guard extends to the offensive end too. The former NBA champion offers strong value as a secondary playmaker and shooter for the Lakers. White averaged 4.8 assists per game and shot 38.4 percent from beyond the arc in 2024-25.
Out of all the Celtics trade options discussed here, White has the most team-friendly contract too. The two-time All-Defensive Team member is set to earn $28.1 million in 2025-26, and comes with two more guaranteed seasons on his deal before a player option in 2029-30.
There is no doubt that a lot of the factors discussed above will make White the player that the Celtics want to keep the most out of the three big-money guys surrounding their main duo. However, if the pathway to a deal is there, the Lakers would be wise to take it.