With the Steph Curry era winding down, it makes sense for the Golden State Warriors to try to build the best team around him while the window is still open. One reported target was Boston Celtics guard Derrick White, whom Jake Fischer confirmed the Warriors tried to get, but nothing came to fruition
“Golden State definitely called for Derek White, but there’s just nothing that I know for Jaylen (Brown) or Derrick that got really close,” Fischer said on Celtics CLNS on July 16. “I think all along, there was never really a plan to move Jaylen or Derrick. So, I don’t think anything got close. (Golden State) would have had to really make a Desmond Bane, Mikail Bridges type of offer for Derrick White.”
The Celtics were trying to reduce their tax bill, which was the only reason trading for White was technically feasible. Once they traded Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis, White was no longer on the table for anyone, let alone the Warriors, even if he wasn’t a realistic option to begin with.
Derrick White Showers Steph Curry With Praise for Olympics Performance
Even if they may never be teammates on the Warriors, Curry and White were teammates on Team USA during the 2024 Paris Olympics. On his personal podcast “White Noise,” White
“Steph was unbelievable, he was just going crazy,” White said on Tuesday. “In the beginning [of the Olympic tournament], Steph wasn’t himself. We were waiting for that Steph game to happen, and it happened in that Serbia game, and he carried it over to the gold medal game.”
White also couldn’t believe what he was seeing from Curry during the gold medal game between Team USA and France.
“In the [fourth quarter] of that game, Steph kicks it to [Kevin Durant] and [LeBron James] is open in the corner and he’s like, ‘Nah, back to you, Steph,’ it was unbelievable. To be on the good side of it, it was an unbelievable feeling. The whole bench is going crazy, like we can’t believe what we’re watching either.”
Curry scored 24 points against France, effectively securing USA’s gold medal in the process.
Derrick White & Steph Curry Would Have Been Amazing Together
White may not join Golden State soon, but putting him on the team would have been a big deal for the Warriors. He has emerged as one of the NBA’s best 3&D guards. On top of being a two-time All-Defense recipient, White has shot between 38.1% to 39.6% from three over the last three seasons.
White’s defense and floor spacing would have been a perfect fit for the Warriors, which has emphasized that since the Curry era came into full swing. Understandably, though, for that same reason, Boston was not forking him over.
