LAS VEGAS — The Celtics never came close to trading Jaylen Brown or Derrick White earlier this summer as the phone reportedly rang nonstop for both Boston stars ahead of a projected gap year for the franchise with Jayson Tatum out. That notion became clear in conversations throughout Summer League following Mike Zarren’s assertion of the same following the NBA Draft, when teams in the top-10 made offers for the stars.
NBA insider Jake Fischer, from the Stein Line Substack, joined The Garden Report this week and reported that the Toronto Raptors floated the No. 9 overall pick in last month’s draft for White. They even grew aggressive enough to offer the ninth pick for Jrue Holiday, Fischer believed, but wanted to offload RJ Barrett’s contract in a potential deal. Given their luxury tax, apron and long-term flexibility concerns, Barrett’s two-year, $57.3 million deal proved too rich and the Celtics traded Holiday for Anfernee Simons’ $27.7 million expiring.
The Raptors ultimately used the pick, drafting forward Collin Murray-Boyles from South Carolina with Khaman Maluach, Cedric Coward and various center prospects available. New Orleans traded up to No. 13 overall to select Derik Queen, sending its unprotected 2026 Bucks pick to the Hawks for the selection. The Celtics stayed at No. 28 and took Hugo González before trading back from No. 32 in the second round.
“I don’t think Boston ever really was so interested in that selection for one of those types of guys,” Fischer said. “Golden State definitely called for Derrick White too, but there’s just nothing that I know for Jaylen that got really close or for Derrick too.”
“I think the fact that they moved Jrue, and (Kristaps) Porzingis was also expected. I think all along there was never really a plan to move Jaylen or Derrick. So I don’t think anything got clos. I don’t think they were really like willing to move those guys either. You would have had to really make some … Desmond Bane, Mikal Bridges type of offer for Derrick White. And I think honestly for Jaylen, as great as he is, I think a lot of teams look at his salary number as something that’s like — why would you be paying what Boston valued him at for that contract? So his deal is not so universally viewed as an incredible addition if you were to go out and trade for him.”
Other Vegas conversations pointed toward Holiday’s concerns about joining the Trail Blazers following the trade alleviating after he and his family arrived in Portland. Fischer added that former Portland star Damian Lillard called Holiday to encourage him given the experience that he had as one of the franchise’s greats. The Blazers ultimately pulled two second-rounders back from the original construction of the deal over physical concerns not considered serious enough to nix the trade. Holiday’s age and contract length played a role in the amendment, which resulted in only Simons returning to Boston.
The Celtics aren’t done dealing, Fischer noted, and will continue to pursue Simons and Georges Niang trades that allow the team to grow younger and less expensive. The team will likely remain in talks through the February trade deadline, though the White and Brown talks appears in the past. As for Lillard, the star remains uncertain with his future as he assesses multiple options to begin a season where he’ll mostly rehab from achilles surgery. The Boston Globe has reported shared interest between Lillard and the Celtics, with Tatum recruiting.
“I think he has every reason to not sign just wait it out and be the big midseason acquisition somewhere. If he wants to sign somewhere now, the most benefit he would have is to get full support for his rehab, but he’s made hundreds of millions of dollars in his career. He’s got this whole estate out in Portland where he spends most of his time in the offseason as is. I don’t think he has any reason to do that. He’s gonna have interest from every contender, right? Miami will certainly be involved. Golden State, definitely. Why wouldn’t he want to go to Boston? Why wouldn’t Boston want him?”
As for Al Horford, long expected to sign with the Warriors when they finalize their Jonathan Kuminga free agency agreement, Fischer doesn’t expect the veteran big man to sign for more than a two-year contract, perhaps with a player option. Golden State is focused on a two-year window with Steph Curry, Draymond Green and Jimmy Butler, and while Horford is widely expected to join them, he could return to free agency next summer.
The Celtics let Horford, Luke Kornet and Porzingis walk this summer, in part, due to a continued sense around the league that centers are attainable at low-cost. Brook Lopez signed for $9 million average annual value over two years with a second-year club option, Clint Capela made $7 million per season over three years and even free agent headliner Myles Turner only earned $27.2 million per year with Milwaukee. The Celtics will have as much as the full mid-level exception next offseason to find a new center, if necessary. Despite the center situation in Boston showing, as much as anything else, the step back that Boston could take this season, they aren’t tanking.
“I don’t think their plan is to tank right now, but what happened with Philly, what happened with New Orleans, knock on wood, you get one injury and all of a sudden you’re in that position,” Fischer said. “I think they anticipate being competitive in that, it’s funny like if you’re not competing for a top 4 seed, you’re trying to compete with the six seed, right? You’re trying to not be in the plan. I do think they have a belief that they can be that they can be out of the playing muck, especially like there’s so much belief in Payton Pritchard being able to step up in Tatum’s absence. If he’s an all-star, I wouldn’t be surprised. So if you put him, Jaylen Brown, Derrick White together on the floor — (you have) three all-star caliber players.”
