Celtics' NBA champion guard could leave for Lakers to help Luka Doncic win first title

Apr 9, 2025; Dallas, Texas, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) reacts while watching a tribute video before the game against the Dallas Mavericks at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images

The NBA offseason is in full effect following an exhilarating seven-game NBA Finals series between the Indiana Pacers and Oklahoma City Thunder. 

The Boston Celtics have already completed two blockbuster trades since the end of the 2024-25 campaign (the organization traded Jrue Holiday to the Portland Trail Blazers and Kristaps Porzingis to the Atlanta Hawks). 

According to NBC’s Kurt Helin, the Celtics could make another move that would greatly benefit the Los Angeles Lakers.

“The Boston Celtics aren’t done trimming salary,” Helin wrote Wednesday. “The Lakers recognize they need to bolster their roster around LeBron James and Luka Doncic. Do we have a match?"

“One rumor that has gained traction online (which does not necessarily mean it has gained much traction in the real world), the Lakers would acquire championship point guard Derrick White from Boston in a trade centered around Rui Hachimura and Dalton Knecht.”

“This is fluid and there are a lot of moving parts — some people want Jaylen Brown involved, but that is an insane long shot — but the rumor is out there.”

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“For the Lakers, White is the perfect point guard to play off Doncic. White is an elite defensive point guard who shot 38.4% from three last season and excels at catch-and-shoots while also capable of creating secondary shots as needed.”

Although Boston failed to repeat as NBA champions this past season, White continued to prove his worth with the franchise. 

The Colorado product isn’t the most fun player in the league to watch, but his consistent offensive and defensive contributions make him the perfect glue guy. 

White can hit kick-out triples at a dependable clip, take nonchalant defenders off the dribble without utilizing flashy dribble moves, and prevent opponents from getting paint touches as a lockdown perimeter defender. 

White averaged 16.4 points, 4.8 assists, and 4.5 rebounds with the Celtics in Year 8, shooting 44.2% from the field and 38.4% from three-point land. 

If the Lakers can pull off a blockbuster trade for the 30-year-old veteran this summer, they’ll drastically improve their chances of helping Doncic win his first championship in 2025-26.

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