According to Sam Amick of The Athletic, the Minnesota Timberwolves are interested in potentially trading for Derrick White. However, if they wanted to pry White away from the Boston Celtics, it would likely cost them Jaden McDaniels or Naz Reid. And if they were to be the third team in a Giannis Antetokounmpo trade, it would almost certainly be McDaniels.
No matter what way you spin it, if White is the trade target, the Wolves would have to give up some serious assets. The Celtics undoubtedly value White, who has been an integral piece of the puzzle in Boston for years. And if White were to be traded for Giannis, the Milwaukee Bucks would definitely want McDaniels back from the Wolves.
Either way, it’s a precarious position for Minnesota to be in.
Derrick White rumor creates Jaden McDaniels questions
Now, it seems unlikely that the Wolves would ship out McDaniels for White. If they were to trade him, it would be for a much bigger fish. But then what would the trade be?
Boston doesn’t want Julius Randle. They probably don’t want Rudy Gobert for his price. Maybe a package with Naz Reid and draft picks could get it done, but even then, Boston may want to keep its starting guard.
White’s efficiency dipped in a major way last season, but he was still one of the best defenders in the NBA. And with Jayson Tatum back in full next season, his numbers could be back on the upswing.
Amick mentioned this rumor in the context of Giannis rumblings, so, in theory, White could be part of a three-team deal that landed The Greek Freak in Boston and White in Minnesota.
At that point, however, the Bucks would definitely want some significant assets back from the Wolves. They would probably get draft capital and other solid players from the Celtics, but they would want something great from Minnesota, too.
Maybe Minnesota could sell the Bucks on taking Randle’s expiring contract so they could be off the White money, but at that point, why wouldn’t the Bucks just accept a Jaylen Brown trade or the Miami Heat package?
No, if the Wolves are getting involved, it’s because the Bucks want a guy like McDaniels. And if it were to be a straight-up trade with the Celtics, they would probably want McDaniels, too.
That type of deal seems highly unlikely. I do not think the Wolves would trade McDaniels for White. But I also don’t think the Celtics would give him up for much less.
