Scan the box score of last night’s blowout at Brooklyn and Derrick White’s 14 points, 5 rebounds, and three assists with zero turnovers don’t exactly jump off the page. Nearly all the starters had more points. Marcus Smart shined with the lion’s share of minutes at the point and hit 5-of-6 from behind the arc. Without White, the Celtics probably still beat the Nets comfortably, but in his fifth game with the team, it’s becoming very apparent why Boston targeted him at the trade deadline.
For Brad Stevens, White represented a known commodity and was well worth the price it took (Romeo Langford, Josh Richardson, their 2022 first round draft pick, and a future potential pick swap) to get him in green.