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Grant Hill: 'Contrary to popular belief, I do like Jaylen Brown. I love his game, and things got difficult there with that team. In putting the team together, just to give some context, we had Kawhi Leonard on that penciled in on that team, and he got hurt at the end of that season in 2024. He came to camp, he wasn't right, and so we had to pivot. A couple of things happened at that camp, and people want to believe what they want to believe, but at the end of the day, Kevin Durant showed up, he was hurt. He had a grade one calf strain, and I think we all have PTSD from the last time he had a calf strain, so we were very patient with him. Jayson Tatum had just had a baby, so he showed up late. Joel Embiid was, you know, we knew we were managing him, but we needed him for Nikola Jokic against Serbia, because that was the matchup. We didn't have our full roster, and then we started looking around and saying, oh man, like Jrue Holiday was so important for us in the FIBA game. A point guard who can play his role, ball pressure, the whole nine. If Jrue got hurt, our point guards were Jrue Holiday and Stephen Curry, and defense wasn't necessarily their strong point. It was like, okay, let's bring in insurance for Jrue Holiday and like Derrick White. So that was the thought process.'
As Derrick White and Jordan Walsh went through a workout on one of the Cox Pavilion courts Saturday morning, head coach Joe Mazzulla detailed the respect he has for Brown, what Boston will miss most about him and the need to create a new path forward without him. After 10 highly successful seasons with Brown, Boston will take on a different look with Paul George, Mitchell Robinson and Mike Conley now on the roster. “There needs to be a grieving process for losing not just a player in Jaylen, but a person in Jaylen,” Mazzulla said in an interview with The Athletic. “There needs to be a grieving process that this guy, what he has done on the court and what he’s done in the community and what he’s done for the city of Boston, there should be a grieving process. But the … gray area is throughout that loss, you’re also gaining.”
Derrick White was home with his wife when he found out that Jaylen Brown, one of his longest-tenured teammates, had been traded. “It’s tough to see someone get traded, and JB’s been an amazing teammate, amazing friend to me, and kind of welcomed me when I got traded to Boston,” he said. “So I’m always thankful for my time that I spent with JB, and it’s obviously always tough to get traded, and I know how that feels.” White said he reached out to Brown soon after the trade with a simple message: “Thank you for everything you did for me.”
Bobby Krivitsky: I asked Derrick White about how he’s processing the Jaylen Brown trade, both in terms of their relationship and what this means for his role or what the Celtics will need from him going forward. “Tell him thank you for everything he did for me, and just know how much he means to me.”trade, both in terms of their relationship and what this means for his role or what the Celtics will need from him going forward. “Tell him thank you for everything he did for me, and just know how much he means to
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There was a quote making the rounds that Jaylen Brown was the seventh-best player on the Celtics. Jaylen Brown grades out as the fifth most impactful player on the roster, behind Tatum, Queta, White, and Pritchard. But here's the context that matters: Brown also carried an enormous load. Last season, 35.2% of Boston's possessions ended in a Brown shot, free throw attempt, or turnover, one of the highest usage rates in the entire league. That usage cuts both ways. If Brown's role were reduced, his impact metrics could actually climb. Fewer possessions could mean better efficiency on offense and more energy to pour into his defense. So while I don't think any serious analytical person would call Brown the seventh-best Celtic, I do think it's fair to call him overvalued relative to his contract moving forward. And that's the real question the Celtics have to sit with: what is Brown producing in his current role, and what are they paying for it?
Fullcourtpass: The Boston Celtics believe Derrick White had a better season than Jaylen Brown last year, per @WindhorstESPN "Even though Jaylen Brown was talking about himself for MVP, the Celtics did not feel like Jaylen had the best season on their team. They felt that Derrick White had a better season.” (h/t @MrBuckBuckNBA)
Derrick White: Nothing but love for you JB! 🍀 Thank you for everything you gave to the city of Boston and this franchise! Wishing you nothing but success in the next chapter of your career! 🫡
Minnesota has been most aggressive in pursuing White, the Celtics’ defensive mastermind who has the experience and the savvy to help Edwards and the Wolves break through in the West. White turns 32 next month and saw his 3-point shooting percentage drop considerably this season, but so far the Celtics have rebuffed the Wolves’ advances.
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The list of veterans whom the Wolves have discussed this spring includes the Milwaukee Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo, the Dallas Mavericks’ Kyrie Irving, the New Orleans Pelicans’ Trey Murphy III, the Chicago Bulls’ Josh Giddey, the Boston Celtics’ Derrick White and many more. A couple of important caveats are that every team in the league is considering veteran help, and that having interest in a player does not mean any potential trades have ever been close.
Speaking of Plan Bs, league sources say the Portland Trail Blazers would have serious interest in Brown if the Celtics made him available. The Blazers have been among the suitors for Antetokounmpo since the February trade deadline but appear to be on the outside looking in at the moment. Also, league sources say the Minnesota Timberwolves — whose pursuit of Antetokounmpo also appears to have cooled — have strong interest in the Celtics’ Derrick White.
Similarly, league sources say the Minnesota Timberwolves — whose Antetokounmpo pursuit also appears to have cooled — have strong interest in the Celtics’ Derrick White.
Q. Have you heard from any of the Boston guys during the run here? And I know Derrick White kind of talked to you a little bit about what to expect in San Antonio and making that decision. Like what has it been like to have a guy like that in your corner as you've made this transition? And have you heard from anybody else through this run here? Luke Kornet: Yeah, I heard from guys, I've been in touch with them. There's a group of us that are still like kind of texting throughout the year and whatever. As for Derrick, there's been radio silence. You know the type of guy he is where he's one to foster and hold a grudge, so you kind of want to let that kind of just simmer and then give it the space. And unfortunately you have to play them twice a year, so you see them then, but I mean, there's a hostile act that happened when we played them last, so I don't know if we're exactly on speaking terms.
