Not even the All-Stars have become the top deal? Why did White make 30 teams jealous?

This year's NBA offseason is destined to be a crazy "snatching people". When the deal rumors about Antetokounmpo and Lillard were rumored, an insignificant name suddenly broke out - Derek White of the Celtics. This 31-year-old defender who has never been selected as an All-Star in his career has become the "favorite" of the Warriors, Mavericks, Pistons and other teams. Why? Look at his performance this season and the Celtics’ situation, and you will understand.

Why does White become a hot commodity? 38.4% three-pointers + 1.1 blocks, all-around attributes are too scarce

Look at the data first: 76 games in the regular season, averaging 16.4 points, 4.5 rebounds and 4.8 assists, a three-point shooting percentage of 38.4%, averaging 3.5 three-point shooting percentage, 265 three-point shooting numbers, the top five in the league; 11 games in the playoffs, averaging 18.8 points and 5.1 rebounds, and a three-point shooting percentage of 38.5%. He carried the team forward many times at critical moments - G1 scored 30 points in the first round, and G5 Tatum scored 34 points in the second round when he was absent, dragging the game back to New York with 7 three-pointers.

What is more valuable is his "universal oil attribute": he can play with the ball and lose the ball, and defends from the first position to the third position on the defensive end, and averages 1.05 blocks per game at the top level among the defenders. In the end of the regular season and the playoffs, when Holiday was injured and Tatum was in a state of ups and downs, White almost became the Celtics' most stable scoring point and defensive vanguard. To put it bluntly, which team doesn’t want such a player?

The Celtics' salary is 494 million yuan, and White has become the only "movable asset"

But the current situation of the Celtics is not an exaggeration to describe it as "burning the eyebrows". The total salary + luxury tax will be 494 million next season, of which 231 million salary and 263 million luxury tax will be set a record in the NBA. What's even worse is that after triggering the "second tyrant line", they were sanctioned by the league so that they could not move: they freeze the first round of 2032 picks, cannot use the middle class special case, and sign a basic salary of 25 million yuan, and they have to pay an extra tax of 25 million yuan...

Look at the lineup again: Tatum's Achilles tendon rupture overhaul, Holiday's 35-year and 103 million yuan contract is difficult to take on a three-year and 103 million yuan contract; Brown's salary next season is 50 million, and the cost-effectiveness plummeted; only White, with a three-year and 68 million contract (28.1 million next season), with a reasonable salary and a peak condition, becoming the only "high-quality asset" that the Celtics can take.

CBS Sports and BleacherReport's trading plan is very telling: the Mavericks want to use PJ Washington + two first rounds to exchange White, the Pistons are willing to play Ivy + the first round, and the Warriors are even willing to send out Kuminga + Moody + the first round... Why? Because White's contract is simply the "perfect puzzle" for the championship team.

The Warriors and Mavericks each get what they need, and White becomes the "win-loser" in the playoffs

Mavericks: After the team got the No. 1 pick, they still lack a defender who can defend and shoot three-pointers. When Irving was injured and absent, White could share the pressure with the ball; after Irving came back, he could focus on off-ball and defense, perfectly adapted. Moreover, PJ Washington was a little embarrassed to play No. 3 in the Mavericks. If it were White, the lineup shortcomings were instantly filled.

Warriors: Curry needs reliable pitchers and defenders. White's 38.4% three-point shooting percentage can alleviate the Warriors' dilemma of "no shooter except Curry"; on the defensive end, he can make up for the loopholes left by Moody and Cumingga after leaving, and can even reach the small forward position, making Cole's rotation more flexible.

Pistol: Although Ivey has potential, his condition after heals. White's immediate combat power and experience can directly improve the competitiveness of the Pistons' back line. With Cunningham, he has both offense and defense in the backcourt.

Tatum's injury determines everything! Should the Celtics demolish the team and rebuild it, or should they grit their teeth and stand firm?

The key now lies in Tatum's injury. If the Achilles tendon recovers smoothly, the Celtics may choose to keep White, send Holiday and Porzingis away with all their efforts, and cut salaries and avoid taxes; but if Tatum's recovery is not ideal, the Celtics may completely dismantle the team - after all, the 494 million salary pressure no longer allows them to bet on the future.

White himself is full of affection for the Celtics. He said after the game, "I love playing with this group of people", but the NBA is a business world after all. The quotes of Warriors and Mavericks are becoming more and more attractive, and the phone calls of the Celtics management are probably going to be blown up every day. The final suspense is still to wait and see the trading rumors of Derek White reflecting the cruel reality of the NBA: no matter how strong the team is, it cannot withstand the crushing of salary rules; no matter how low-key a player is, as long as he has the strength, he can become a "hard currency" in the transfer market. His story tells us: In this league, the All-Star title is not the only pass, and stable performance and comprehensive ability are the foundation.

White has reached a critical turning point in his career wherever he ends up going. For the championship team, he is the last piece of the puzzle; for the reconstruction team, he is a high-quality asset that can be exchanged for the future. For fans, such a "counterattack script" is the most attractive thing in the NBA - there will always be players who are not favored, and they will slap all doubts in the face with their strength.

This summer, let's see how White writes her new chapter!