NBA Trade Rumors: 3-Way Proposed Deal Sends Derrick White to Rockets

The Houston Rockets lost their veteran point guard Fred VanVleet before the season even began. For a team looking to go all the way this season, being without their championship pedigree team leader on the floor is a problem.

Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report has suggested an opportunity for the Rockets to recoup another ring-wearing backcourt leader in Fred's place, in a proposed three-team trade:

Rockets receive:

Derrick White (Celtics)
Haywood Highsmith (Nets)
$5 million trade exception (via Reed Sheppard)

Celtics receive:

Reed Sheppard (Rockets)
Jalen Wilson (Nets)
2029 first-rounder (via Rockets)
$28.1 million trade exception (via White)

Nets receive:

Fred VanVleet (Rockets)
2027 first-rounder (via Rockets)

While Amen Thompson has done a nice job thus far sliding into the point guard spot, the 23-year-old—as supremely talented a player as he is—should not be counted on to be in full charge of the team with championship aspirations come playoff time, notes Pincus.

White has that championship pedigree from his role with the 2024 Celtics, and in fact, brings even better defensive credentials than VanVleet did. It would be a terrific veteran add, that could take Houston to the promised land.

For the Celtics, it'd be yet another salary-shedding move, sending out White's $29M average salary for the next few years. It would get them under the first apron.

But they'd also be getting back a solid young point guard prospect in Sheppard, the third overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft. They'd also get a first-rounder.

Houston would send another of their first-round picks to Brooklyn for helping out in this deal, using their massive cap space to take on the VanVleet contract.