Winning an NBA title is hard, and finding the diamonds in the rough can make all the difference.
Over the past few years, it’s been hard to hear any conversation about championship contenders without the Boston Celtics being mentioned. However, after Jayson Tatum’s injury and a slew of big offseason departures, that will be the case next season.
Still, Boston’s run as one of the NBA’s top teams has been impressive to watch, and Brad Stevens’ ability to put together a near-perfect roster was incredible. While he gets most of the credit for acquiring Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis in the same offseason, his deal a couple of years earlier set the plan in motion.
In 2022, Stevens made a midseason deal to get Derrick White from the San Antonio Spurs. That deal has now become one of the best trades in recent history for the Celtics, considering how much White has contributed since his arrival.
In a recent Bleacher Report article, Dan Favale even listed White as one of the most underrated players of the 2020s. Favale noted that White might not be in the big-name category, but he can put up some big-name production.
Getting All-Star and All-NBA buzz at various points over the past couple of years, White has been a star for the Celtics, even if the rest of the league isn’t ready to give him that title yet. Although Boston is set to take a step back next season, if White is indeed one of the most underrated players in the league, he could soon show the NBA world how good he can be when he has a higher usage and a green light.
