After the Celtics’ shocking first-round upset, they could spiral into turmoil this offseason and completely overhaul the roster. If Boston does make big changes in an effort to retool their roster, the Pistons must target Derrick White as a potential high-impact acquisition.
The Pistons may have their own difficulties in the trade market, so targeting a team rattled by an unexpected loss would be the ideal strategy. Although White is a great player, his trade value has never been lower following an awful shooting season and playoff run.
The Pistons must pounce if White is available
Despite White’s poor shooting efficiency over the last year, his impact still remained sky-high. He found his way onto the All-Defense First Team (alongside Detroit’s own Ausar Thompson) and was a major factor in the Celtics’ unexpected regular season success.
If White joined the Pistons, their team defense would be nearly impenetrable. Between himself, Thompson and Cade Cunningham, the Pistons would have multiple perimeter players capable of blowing up passing lanes and even providing rim protection. White would also give another lockdown perimeter option against teams with multiple elite guards.
At the same time, White’s own ball-handling ability could also alleviate pressure from Cunningham on offense. During his tenure in Boston, White has racked up nearly 5 assists per game while averaging just 1.5 turnovers per game. He’s definitely capable of running the offense for stretches from the shooting guard spot.
There are some warning signs for White
But White is not necessarily a perfect player by any means. He’s not the most comfortable ramping up to a true secondary option, as he showed by shooting just 39% from the field this season without Jayson Tatum. If the Pistons are planning for an offseason acquisition to create their own shots consistently, they’re better off looking elsewhere.
White is better served when he can play in the flow of an offense, which he could still do on the Pistons. He can extend advantages created by Cunningham to hit outside shots or attack closeouts. In addition, he can run some pick-and-rolls on his own too, just as long as he’s not overloaded in that aspect.
If White is able to share the court with other shooters and a true point guard, his strengths shine even brighter. He could thrive with a Pistons bench lineup including Daniss Jenkins running the point and a willing shooter at center.
For years, White has been one of the league’s best connective pieces in Boston. His two-way value has elevated the Celtics to titles and Finals appearances. Bringing him into Detroit could have the same effect for the Pistons almost immediately.
Add us as a preferred source on Google