Timberwolves have strong interest in Derrick White

Jaylen Brown has been cropping up a lot in Celtics trade rumors lately, but there’s another guard in Boston that rival teams have reportedly been eyeing.

“League sources say the Minnesota Timberwolves — whose pursuit of Antetokounmpo appears to have slowed — have strong interest in Celtics wide receiver Derrick White,” Sam Amick of The Athletic wrote in the notes section of his book. Report on the latest developments in Antetokounmpo trade talks.

White will turn 32 next month, but his defense has remained at an elite level. He earned a spot on the NBA All-Defensive Team first team last season, the first time in his career he has received that recognition. He has previously been named to the second team twice.

He is one of the best shot blockers in the league at the point guard position. The 6-foot-4 White tied seven-foot center Neemias Queta for the team lead in blocks at 1.3 per game. White raised that average to 1.4 per game during the Celtics’ playoff series against Philadelphia.

But it’s not just the ability to block shots that sets White apart. He is a fearless defender who is known for making every effort to make stops on the defensive end. He averaged 1.1 steals per game.

White’s defensive abilities, coupled with his playmaking skills, helped earn him a spot on the U.S. Olympic team in 2024. He’s also managed to stay on the floor consistently — playing in at least 73 games in each of the past five seasons.

However, during this past season, White endured a long shooting slump that was not entirely unlike him. This was the first season of his nine-year career in which White shot less than 40 percent from the field. His 3-point percentage dropped from 38.4 in 2025 to 32.7 in 2026.

With Jayson Tatum out for most of the year and the Celtics losing several capable scorers including Jrue Holiday, Kristaps Porzingis and Al Horford, White has had to take on a bigger role with the Celtics this year. He set career highs in minutes per game (34) and field goals per game (14.4).

White spent most of the year as the Celtics’ No. 3 scoring option. Both Brown and Payton Pritchard averaged more points and field goal attempts per game in the regular season. Tatum finished second on the team in field goal attempts during his 16-game regular season after recovering from offseason Achilles tendon surgery.

Minnesota lost to eventual runner-up San Antonio in the Western Conference Semifinals. They had lost in the Western Conference Finals the previous two seasons.

The T-Wolves have a bona fide star in Anthony Edwards who is unlikely to be available for trade. The Celtics could use additional pieces in the frontcourt, but will bringing in Rudy Gobert (who turns 34 next week) move the needle? Jaden McDaniels is an athletic, 6-foot-9 forward who shot 41.2 percent from 3-point range last season, but it’s unclear if White will be enough to keep him away.

Naz Reed, Ayo Dosunmu and Julius Randle have helped Minnesota stay competitive, but White’s talent and athleticism make it difficult to envision the Celtics accepting a trade package around them.

The Celtics have White under contract for the next two seasons before his player option kicks in in 2029. White will turn 35 at the end of his current deal with Boston.

Khari A. Thompson

Sports reporter

Khary Thompson covers professional sports for Boston.com. Before joining the team in 2022, Khary covered college football for The Clarion Ledger in Jackson, Miss.