The Boston Celtics, fresh off their record-breaking 18th NBA Championship in 2024, are undergoing a seismic shift. Faced with the punitive financial constraints of the NBA’s second apron payroll threshold, president of basketball operations Brad Stevens has made the tough call to reshape the roster. The departure of key players like Jrue Holiday, Kristaps Porzingis, Luke Kornet, and likely Al Horford has already signaled a new era for the storied franchise. Now, a blockbuster trade proposal could redefine the Celtics’ future, sending their $118 million star guard Derrick White to the reigning champions while securing a massive haul of draft picks to fuel a rebuild.
The Celtics’ championship core has been dismantled. Holiday and Porzingis were traded to avoid crippling luxury tax penalties, as Stevens candidly explained to ESPN earlier this month: “We’ve known for a long time that hard decisions were coming. The second apron is why those trades happened. I think that is pretty obvious.” Adding to the roster upheaval, breakout backup center Luke Kornet signed a four-year, $41 million deal with the San Antonio Spurs, and 39-year-old fan favorite Al Horford appears poised to join the Golden State Warriors.
The most devastating blow, however, is the loss of four-time All-NBA first team forward Jayson Tatum, who suffered a torn Achilles tendon in a playoff clash against the New York Knicks in May. With Tatum likely sidelined for most, if not all, of the 2025-2026 season, the Celtics are left with just two starters from their championship roster: All-Star forward Jaylen Brown and the versatile Derrick White, who is entering the first year of his four-year, $118 million contract extension.
But Stevens isn’t standing pat. A bold new trade proposal, crafted by a user on FanSpo—a platform known for its salary cap and trade analysis tools—could jump-start Boston’s rebuild while sending White to a championship contender.
In a move reminiscent of the transformative 2013 trade that laid the foundation for Boston’s recent success, this proposed deal involves the Celtics, Toronto Raptors, and Oklahoma City Thunder. Here’s how it breaks down:
Celtics receive:
Toronto Raptors shooting guard RJ Barrett
2028 first-round draft pick (Raptors)
2029 first-round draft pick (Thunder)
2030 first-round draft pick (Raptors)
2031 first-round pick swap rights (Raptors)
Raptors receive:
Oklahoma City Thunder point guard Alex Caruso
Oklahoma City Thunder shooting guard Cason Wallace
2026 first-round draft pick (Thunder)
Thunder receive:
Boston Celtics shooting guard Derrick White
2027 second-round draft pick (Raptors)
For Boston, this trade delivers a treasure trove of draft capital, including three first-round picks and a pick swap, alongside the promising 25-year-old RJ Barrett, who could thrive as a cornerstone of the next Celtics era. The Raptors bolster their roster with the defensive prowess of Caruso and the upside of Wallace, plus a valuable 2026 first-rounder. Meanwhile, the Thunder, fresh off their 2025 championship, add White’s elite two-way play to their already formidable lineup, cementing their status as title favorites.
This trade proposal draws immediate parallels to the 2013 deal orchestrated by then-GM Danny Ainge, which sent Celtics legends Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett to the Brooklyn Nets. That trade, though gut-wrenching for fans, netted Boston a haul of draft picks that became the bedrock of their championship roster. The 2016 pick became Jaylen Brown, and a 2017 pick swap yielded Jayson Tatum—two players who powered Boston to two NBA Finals, six Eastern Conference Finals, and the 2024 title.
The proposed deal mirrors that strategy, prioritizing future flexibility over immediate contention. With Tatum’s injury casting a shadow over the 2025-2026 season, Stevens appears to be playing the long game, stockpiling assets to rebuild around Brown and Barrett while maintaining cap flexibility. The four draft picks, spread across 2028 to 2031, give Boston the ammunition to either draft young talent or swing for another star in future trades.
For Celtics fans, parting with Derrick White—a beloved two-way guard who played a pivotal role in the 2024 championship—would sting. White’s defensive tenacity, clutch shooting, and selfless play made him a cornerstone of Boston’s success. Sending him to the Thunder, where he’d join forces with a championship-caliber roster, feels like a painful but pragmatic move. White’s $118 million contract, once a bargain, now represents a chance to extract maximum value as the Celtics pivot toward the future.
With Jaylen Brown as the centerpiece and RJ Barrett as a high-upside addition, the Celtics are poised to remain competitive while building for the long term. Barrett, a former No. 3 overall pick, has shown flashes of stardom with the Raptors, averaging 21.8 points per game in the 2024-2025 season. At just 25, he could complement Brown’s two-way excellence and form a dynamic duo as Tatum works toward a return.
The draft picks, meanwhile, offer a safety net for the uncertainty ahead. The Raptors’ picks could prove especially valuable if Toronto’s rebuild stalls, while the Thunder’s 2029 selection adds a high-value asset from a team that may face its own cap challenges down the line. The 2031 pick swap provides further insurance, ensuring Boston can capitalize on Toronto’s trajectory.
Brad Stevens’ willingness to make tough calls has already reshaped the Celtics once, and this proposed trade signals his commitment to keeping Boston in contention for years to come. While the loss of White, Tatum’s injury, and the departure of key veterans mark the end of an era, the influx of draft picks and a young star in Barrett offer hope for a bright future. Just as the 2013 trade set the stage for a championship, this deal could lay the foundation for banner No. 19.
For now, Celtics fans must brace for a transitional season, but with Stevens at the helm and a war chest of assets, the green-and-white faithful can trust that the next chapter is already taking shape.