The Boston Celtics have slammed the door on what league sources describe as aggressive trade overtures for guard Derrick White, with the Minnesota Timberwolves pushing hardest to pry him loose. For now, White remains firmly in Boston’s plans as a key two-way piece, an elite defensive guard whose value has not dipped even as offseason rumor season heats up. With the draft and free agency looming, this feels more like leverage plays and exploratory calls than anything close to a done deal.
Boston.com reported Monday that the Celtics have already turned back the Wolves’ advances, noting that Timberwolves reporter Jon Krawczynski labeled Minnesota as “most aggressive” in pursuing White. The initial league chatter on White’s availability traces to Sam Amick of The Athletic, as relayed by Sports Illustrated. According to Boston.com, teams are absolutely testing Boston’s resolve, but nothing so far has come close to shaking the Celtics from their stance.
Derrick White just wrapped a high-impact, two-way campaign in 2025–26, averaging about 16.5 points per game while shouldering heavy minutes and serving as a backbone of Boston’s perimeter defense. The league’s official pages show that White shot roughly 39.4 percent from the field and 32.7 percent from three, and he earned a spot on the 2025–26 All-Defensive First Team. NBA.com lists White’s season numbers and the All-Defensive recognition.
What A Gobert Trade Would Actually Look Like
On paper, veteran center Rudy Gobert is the cleanest salary match that comes up when people connect Boston and Minnesota. NBA insider Jake Fischer has pointed out that a Gobert-for-White framework would be a clear salary match, a detail folded into the coverage at Boston.com. Gobert still brings elite interior defense and multiple Defensive Player of the Year trophies to the table, but he is 34 and a lower-volume offensive option than White, which makes the basketball fit far from simple. Coverage at ClutchPoints and contract details from Spotrac and Spotrac show that the money can be made to line up, but any realistic version of this deal would almost certainly require Boston to receive additional assets or protections on top.
What's Next For The Offseason
As the draft approaches and July creeps closer, expect the usual slow burn. Teams will keep calling, the Celtics will keep listening, and most conversations will quietly fizzle out. Outlets tracking the rumor mill say Boston is not eager to part with a top-tier rotation defender unless an offer clearly upgrades their title chances, rather than just shuffling pieces around. CBS Sports grouped the White buzz in with other Celtics offseason scenarios and stressed that strong interest does not necessarily mean a move is close.
For now, all signs point to Derrick White staying put while other teams poke at the market. The spicier action this summer may end up coming from multi-team constructions or a surprise star shakeup rather than a straight one-for-one swap. As the draft and free-agency window unfold, though, it is safe to assume the Celtics and Timberwolves will keep each other on speed dial.
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