The Toronto Raptors could be a sleeper team heading into next season. With Scottie Barnes, Brandon Ingram, RJ Barrett, and Immanuel Quickley leading a balanced mix of youth and veteran talent, the roster is solid but lingering inconsistencies and depth issues have kept them from being viewed as a true playoff lock.
Sports Illustrated’s Ryan Shea recently floated a trade idea to address those weaknesses, proposing that Toronto target Boston Celtics guard Derrick White.
Proposed Deal:
- Raptors receive: Derrick White
- Celtics receive: RJ Barrett, 2026 first-round pick, 2028 first-round pick
For Toronto, the move would create a major upgrade at shooting guard. White has developed into one of the NBA’s premier two-way players, offering perimeter scoring, strong playmaking, and elite defense against top assignments. Last season, he averaged 16.4 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 4.8 assists on 44.2% shooting from the field and 38.4% from three.
White’s championship pedigree and leadership would provide invaluable stability to the Raptors’ young core. Paired in the backcourt with Quickley, he could split playmaking duties while anchoring the team defensively alongside Barnes and Jakob Poeltl.
From Boston’s perspective, the trade brings future flexibility. While RJ Barrett wouldn’t help reduce salary, his scoring ability and untapped playmaking potential could add a different dimension to their offense especially in Jayson Tatum’s absence. The two first-round picks in 2026 and 2028 would also help replenish the Celtics’ draft capital.
Barrett, who averaged 21.1 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 5.4 assists last season, could slot into the frontcourt to replace White, with reigning Sixth Man of the Year Payton Pritchard moving into the starting lineup. Paired with Anfernee Simons, Barrett might take on a larger playmaking role while providing offensive versatility.
Still, the Celtics are unlikely to entertain this trade. White is a core piece of their system, and despite rumors earlier in the offseason, Boston has been firm about keeping him. With the 2025–26 season seen as a temporary step back, the team appears intent on keeping its main rotation intact in anticipation of Tatum’s return potentially positioning themselves for a title push as early as 2026–27.
