Where We're At

Ball Handlers - Smart, White, Pritchard
Wings - Nesmith, Brown, Tatum
Bigs - Robert Williams, Horford, Theis, Grant Williams


That's 11 players.  Did I miss someone?

While individual teams must carry a minimum of 13 (12 active plus one inactive) players, the NBA guarantees a league-wide average of at least 14 players per team. The league is surcharged if they do not meet the average.

SO, there will be additions.  We need 2 players just to get to the minimum.  Sam Hauser might get upgraded to a full NBA contract but that would still leave us 1 short.

Gary Washburn @GwashburnGlobe
1 minute ago
Now the #Celtics have plenty of roster space for Isaiah Thomas.


Bob


.

Jay King @ByJayKing
about 6 minutes ago
Ime Udoka was mad at the third stringers the other day for giving up most of the lead and now the Celtics don’t have third stringers so it really makes you think.


Bob


.

Bob,

"Now the #Celtics have plenty of roster space for Isaiah Thomas."

That would be cool.

Now we look to the waiver wire?

Trader Brad? I am getting excited.

Three capable big men to pound Embiid! White is an upgrade over Richardson. Payton Prichard and Nesmith lining up for playing time. Possibility of getting Dragic in buyout?

The Celts got better for this year and have a good thing going forward. Thankfully, the season will become fun.

A starting 5 of Smart, White, Brown, Tatum, and Rob should be a defensive menace. White seems like a savvy player, who makes those around him better.

From Michael Pina at Sports Illustrated:


NBA Trade Grades: Celtics Acquire Derrick White From Spurs

MICHAEL PINA

As a standalone transaction, the suddenly dangerous Celtics acquired Derrick White, a malleable two-way role player who’s under contract through 2025, in his prime and already familiar with the offensive system head coach Ime Udoka has implemented in Boston. With Josh Richardson, Romeo Langford (who couldn’t quite crack Udoka’s rotation) and a top-four protected first-round pick heading out the door, it’s a talent upgrade in the short and long-term that complements Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum and Rob Williams.

CELTICS GRADE: A-
White is comfortable handling the ball, and, despite spacing issues, has actually done a decent job in spots as San Antonio’s primary pick-and-roll playmaker—crucial on a team that just lost Dennis Schröder and Josh Richardson. White has one of the best floaters in basketball and does a great job keeping plays alive when downhill off a screen. White also takes care of the ball and is averaging a career high 5.6 assists per game.

His three-point shooting is down this year (White has been particularly wretched from the corner), but as a third, fourth or fifth option in most lineups he’ll have a beat longer to launch spot-up looks. He made 37% of his catch-and-shoot threes last year and 39% in 2020. The Celtics have mauled opponents with their dual-big starting five, but down the stretch of close games (and perhaps full-time in the playoffs, depending on who they face), White is ideal next to Marcus Smart, Brown, Tatum and Williams. White is a scrappy, intuitive defender who doesn’t mind sacrificing his body. He’ll fit nicely onto a Celtics team that switches more than any other in the league. Boston’s top seven is now as complete and versatile as any in the conference, with far more certainty going forward than they had yesterday.

SPURS GRADE: A-
In addition to scooping up a lottery-protected first-round pick from the Raptors earlier today, the Spurs grab a top-four protected first from the Celtics, plus a wing prospect, in this deal. They also get off the $53 million that’s left on White’s contract, opening up even more cap space for a front office that will have plenty of flexibility this offseason.

White was a solid backcourt partner for Dejounte Murray and appreciated in San Antonio for all the subtle ways he impacted winning. But at 27 years old, he’s also at a stage in his career where he ultimately makes more sense on a team with loftier ambition.

The Spurs have full-on embraced their rebuild and are grabbing assets left and right with the hope of making it as quick and painless as possible. If they snag a top-3 pick in this year’s draft, in part because they no longer have one of their best team defenders, all the better. Those other firsts could be valuable if they want to move up a spot or two, too.

White is an excellent defender and slightly younger than Richardson. He is costlier as well, and not as good an outside shooter (this year) He may be almost in the Marcus Smart defender category, which I assume is why they wanted him. Ime and Brad going all in on D. Daniel Theis is a huge get, in my view. With the additional roster space, I reckon the Celts are scouring the waiver line for shooters. Both the Sixers and Nets improved themselves immensely on paper. Let's see how it  works out on the hardwood.

I suppose the Celts weren't overly concerned with giving up a #1 pick, which I concur with. They've still got Mader and another young wing playing overseas,

jrleftfoot wrote:I suppose the Celts weren't overly concerned with giving up a #1 pick, which I concur with. They've still got Mader and another young wing playing overseas,

The pick is top-4 protected, but that may be just next season. I'm curious if the protections change over time until it finally becomes a second rounder. That is how many of these picks change over time.

I don't watch other teams so I don't know anything about White. The pundits give us an A- ? I hope they are right.

jrleftfoot wrote:I suppose the Celts weren't overly concerned with giving up a #1 pick, which I concur with. They've still got Mader and another young wing playing overseas,

The swap in 2028 seems like a bit much to me. I haven't heard anything about any protections, and we could be rebuilding by then. I guess Brad figures he has time to collect picks...

Our defense has been rock solid.  The biggest issue has been poor 3 point shooting.  We did nothing at all to address that.  Our wing depth took a hit as well unless we can imagine that Nesmith will all of a sudden begin to play basketball at an acceptable level.

Theis is an upgrade over Freedom but with Rob and AH manning the front line I do not see how his value meets his salary.  Theis is also another horrible shooter from deep (29.1%) on the year.  He is averaging 22 MPG so as his minutes go down so will his production.

We basically added a combo guard that is not a very good shooter.  36.6%, 34.4% and 31.4% this year on 5.3 attempts.  You gotta be kidding me.

These moves make us slightly better on defense mostly because freedom was really bad but our offense may be even worse.

dboss wrote:Our defense has been rock solid.  The biggest issue has been poor 3 point shooting.  We did nothing at all to address that.  Our wing depth took a hit as well unless we can imagine that Nesmith will all of a sudden begin to play basketball at an acceptable level.

Theis is an upgrade over Freedom but with Rob and AH manning the front line I do not see how his value meets his salary.  Theis is also another horrible shooter from deep (29.1%) on the year.  He is averaging 22 MPG so as his minutes go down so will his production.

We basically added a combo guard that is not a very good shooter.  36.6%, 34.4% and 31.4% this year on 5.3 attempts.  You gotta be kidding me.

These moves make us slightly better on defense mostly because freedom was really bad but our offense may be even worse.

dboss,

Don't get that last statement. White has those % on a bad Spurs team. Was Richardson better? He had such a slow release and low release point on his shot that he needed a lot of space. From my memory, White is much quicker.

prakash wrote:

dboss wrote:Our defense has been rock solid.  The biggest issue has been poor 3 point shooting.  We did nothing at all to address that.  Our wing depth took a hit as well unless we can imagine that Nesmith will all of a sudden begin to play basketball at an acceptable level.

Theis is an upgrade over Freedom but with Rob and AH manning the front line I do not see how his value meets his salary.  Theis is also another horrible shooter from deep (29.1%) on the year.  He is averaging 22 MPG so as his minutes go down so will his production.

We basically added a combo guard that is not a very good shooter.  36.6%, 34.4% and 31.4% this year on 5.3 attempts.  You gotta be kidding me.

These moves make us slightly better on defense mostly because freedom was really bad but our offense may be even worse.

dboss,

Don't get that last statement.  White has those % on a bad Spurs team.  Was Richardson better?  He had such a slow release and low release point on his shot that he needed a lot of space.  From my memory, White is much quicker.

Prak

Richardson shot 39.7%.  Yes he has a slower release but he still made 3 pointers (3.5 attempts per)  White has been going in the wrong direction for  3 straight years and he is only shooting 31.4% from deep this year.  Plus our depth took a hit.  DS and JR > DW.   How can our offense possibly be better?

Schroeder (34.9%) shot the ball better than White.  

The Celtics as a team have struggled all year in shooting the 3 ball and now we move 2 of our better overall shooters.  Theis is shooting 29%.  We cannot possibly be better on offense than we were before all the moves.

Assuming the goal achieved of being below the tax line is now locked in, we will be hard pressed to fill the open roster spots with any helpful talent.

All this activity and we are still running in quick sand.

gyso wrote:

jrleftfoot wrote:I suppose the Celts weren't overly concerned with giving up a #1 pick, which I concur with. They've still got Mader and another young wing playing overseas,

The pick is top-4 protected, but that may be just next season.  I'm curious if the protections change over time until it finally becomes a second rounder.  That is how many of these picks change over time.

I don't watch other teams so I don't know anything about White.  The pundits give us an A- ?  I hope they are right.

The pick is top 4 protected this year and it seems pretty far fetched that the Celtics would land a top 4 pick. It goes to the Spurs this upcoming draft. The Spurs have a real knack for finding late round gems. Given the fact that Boston had to give up their first rounder last year to get off of the Kemba Walker deal, I am surprised that Brad let Pop fleece him into giving up the pick this year. The pick is way more than a sweetener.

White is a good player but not worth what we gave up. We needed a shooter or two and now we got another non shooter.

Brian Robb @BrianTRobb
about 1 hour ago
Very curious to see who Celtics bring in to fill their open roster spots. Hearing it will be a mix of youth and veterans on the open market. Team could wait things out to fill last couple spots after seeing how buyout market shakes out.



Brian Robb
Brian Robb @BrianTRobb
about 1 hour ago
Celtics will need to sign at least two players ahead of tomorrow's game with the Nuggets. Look for Sam Hauser and Brodric Thomas to be in uniform as well.


Bob


.

6'4", 190#, 6'7 1/2" wingspan.





Bob


.

I’m not much into report cards but if you put a gun to my head i’d have to give Brad a D+ on these moves.
I would give him an F but I’m pretty certain that one Wycliffe Groesbeck was holding a gun to his head. Ok, It was a “Cap” Gun. But It’s still a gun GD it! :>)

One plus regarding the acquisition of White is that he knows the offense Ime is implementing.  Ime is trying to burn Pop's offense into the Celtics and White already knows it cold. So, unlike other point guards that would have no chemistry with their new teammates and minimal experience with Ime's offense Derrick White at least knows where players are supposed to be.

And as far as Theis goes nobody will be happier to see him back than Jayson Tatum.  Remember how many layups he got thanks to Theis running his patented roll-and-screens off a pnr?  Other coaches, I know for sure Frank Vogel is one, have been trying to teach their bigs to set those Theis screens.


Bob


.

8 mil for someone who puts up screens…

Ktron wrote:8 mil for someone who puts up screens…

Maybe I can get him to come 'round my place. Mine are full of holes.

https://www.masslive.com/celtics/2022/02/who-is-derrick-white-how-guard-fits-boston-celtics-after-being-acquired-at-trade-deadline.html


Who is Derrick White? How guard fits Boston Celtics after being acquired at trade deadline


Updated: Feb. 10, 2022, 4:20 p.m. | Published: Feb. 10, 2022, 4:20 p.m.



Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown (7) drives to the basket against San Antonio Spurs guard Derrick White (4) during an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, Jan. 5, 2022, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)AP


By Souichi Terada | sterada@masslive.com



The Celtics were just a part of a chaotic day in the NBA as teams lined up before the trade deadline to revamp their rosters. Boston president Brad Stevens was clearly unafraid to make moves Thursday as he put together three separate trades.

The side moves were minor. Bol Bol and PJ Dozier were sent to the Magic in a cost-cutting deal. Daniel Theis re-joins Boston as Dennis Schröder, Enes Freedom and Bruno Fernando were all shipped to the Rockets.


The main dish was acquiring Derrick White from the Spurs, though the cost was high as the Celtics said farewell to Josh Richardson, Romeo Langford and a 2022 first-round pick (protected through picks 1-4). San Antonio also gets a 2028 first-round pick swap.

That’s a lot of assets for White, but the Celtics clearly like the 6-foot-4 guard. The 27-year-old is also locked up under contract through the 2024-25 season, meaning the C’s get the prime years of his career.

What role will White fill for the Celtics? He’s not the perfect fit, but the former Spur brings a lot to Boston.

There’s already a connection with the current roster, too, as White was part of the 2019 U.S. FIBA World Cup squad. That’s the same team Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown and Marcus Smart played for; Ime Udoka was also an assistant coach. The San Antonio connection is also significant as Udoka and current C’s assistant Will Hardy coached White when they were all under Gregg Popovich.

White’s a solid two-way guard who averaged 14.4 points, 5.6 assists and 3.5 rebounds for the Spurs this season. It hasn’t been White’s best year thus far, but he was still a solid starter for the Spurs. He should also be a solid cultural fit since he already has the San Antonio familiarity with Udoka.

Then there’s White’s defense, which should slide in seamlessly with the Celtics’ stout unit that ranks third in the NBA in defensive efficiency. That’s a great one-two punch Udoka can throw at opponents when paired with Smart on the perimeter. The Celtics are leaning into their defensive identity — don’t forget about Theis, too — and White should fit that ethos well.


It’s not all perfect: White’s shooting 31.4% on 3-pointers this season; the Celtics need all the spacing they can get. He’s had better shooting seasons in his career, but at a career 34.4% mark, that’s not exactly a strength of his. The C’s will hope he can add a few percentage points onto the 3-point shooting, much like Richardson did this season.

White, though, is slated to be a crucial rotation player for the Celtics. There’s a sixth-man role waiting for White after Boston shipped out Richardson and Schröder. Udoka often called Schröder a “sixth starter” who can slide in whenever somebody is out. Now, that’s all White.

The Celtics’ starting lineup — which ranks as one of the best in the league — is already set with their roles. White should slide in well as a defensive player and someone who can also pass well off the bench. The Celtics could always use some extra ball movement, and coming from the Spurs, White should be able to spread the wealth well. The fit alongside Smart and the Jays also looks promising.


It’ll be interesting to see how Udoka utilizes White and the rest of the bench. The first-year coach featured an eight-man rotation in recent weeks; two of those players are now gone. White figures to be a natural replacement, but there’s playing time available for any Celtic who steps up in the next few weeks. Guys like Grant Williams, Aaron Nesmith and Payton Pritchard should be set for more opportunities.

Any determinations, though, should be pending any other future moves the Celtics make considering they have a whopping five roster spots open. It’s clear Stevens isn’t afraid to make some deals as he looked to set up the present but also the future.


Bob
MY NOTE:  By the numbers...

....................fg%......3ptfg%.....Apg....TOpg...Stlpg....Ppg....OffRtg....DefRtg
Schroder-----44%----34.9%-----4.2----2.1----.8-------14.4---108------109
White--------42.6%---31.4%----5.6----1.8-----1.0-----14.4---114------112

Schroder is the better shooter, but not by much.  Neither are heart-warming 3pt shooters.  Despite this their points-per-game are identical.  Schroder takes 9.3 more fgas/game than White.  Think about that!  9.3 more fgas than White, is a better shooter, but doesn't average more points.  Why?  White's shot selection is skewed towards 2pt fgas and he finishes a higher percentage of them.  

Here's Derrick White's shooting graph.  The darker the color the higher the fg% is above league average.  You can see he's very good from the frito line almost down to the restricted area, call it 15' - 10' or so.

https://www.statmuse.com/nba/ask/shot-chart-derrick-white


Now, here's Schroder's shot chart.  The only area he's above league average is from 3, right side above the break.

https://www.statmuse.com/nba/ask/shot-chart-dennis-schroder

Setting shooting aside for minute White is a better point guard.  Not only is he dishing out 1.4 more assists per game than Schroder his 3.1:1 assist-to-turnover ratio is much better than Schroder's pedestrian 2:1.  2:1, for a point guard logging heavy minutes, isn't that great.  Anything over 2:5:1 is pretty good and over 3:1?  Fantastic.  At 3.1:1 Derrick White is 24th in the league in assist-to-turnover ratio.  Schroder isn't in the top 100.

https://www.teamrankings.com/nba/player-stat/assist-to-turnover-ratio


.

John Karalis @John_Karalis
1 hour ago
What's next for Boston? They need to add two guys for tomorrow's game. That could be a 10-day or a rest-of-season veteran minimum guy. The Celtis can't spend anything besides the minimum. They ultimately need to sign 4 players. Upgrading a 2-way player is possible.


Bob
MY NOTE:  Upgrading Hauser would upgrade our shooting.  He's averaging 21.1ppg in G-League (means little-to-nothing against that level of competition) but 41.2% from 3.  The G-League uses the NBA 3 line, of course, so a G-League 3 is an NBA 3.  That's only one out of 4 but, nevertheless...

As far as "The Celtis can't spend anything besides the minimum" goes who did we have on the bottom 1/3 of the roster that was worth more than the minimum?  Romeo?  Barely.  If he wasn't on his rookie contract he'd be on the veteran's minimum (or G-League).  Enes?  He is on the veteran's minimum this year.  Same with Bruno.  So, if we replace Romeo and Enes and Bruno and Juancho with either young talent or veterans who can still get the job done albeit in fewer mpg (e.g. IT) then how have we weakened our bench?  The bottom 3rd of the bench stunk before these trades, replacing them with some proven, hungry 30-something veterans can't be worse.  Who would you rather have in the bottom 3rd, IT or Romeo?

Schroder was going.  Done deal.  We got Theis.  He isn't the board monster Enes is but he can spell 'defense'.

I'm surprised Josh is gone, the rumors were we wanted to keep him.  

We were all clamoring for Pritchard and Nesmith to get minutes.  Well, two of the players in front of them on the depth chart are gone and only one of the players that came to Boston is in front of them.  That should give us what we asked for, right?  Be careful what you ask for, you might get it.



.

gyso wrote:

Ktron wrote:8 mil for someone who puts up screens…

Maybe I can get him to come 'round my place.  Mine are full of holes.  

I sure Wyc wouldn't mind picking up the tab. No?

bobheckler wrote:John Karalis @John_Karalis
1 hour ago
What's next for Boston? They need to add two guys for tomorrow's game. That could be a 10-day or a rest-of-season veteran minimum guy. The Celtis can't spend anything besides the minimum. They ultimately need to sign 4 players. Upgrading a 2-way player is possible.


Bob
MY NOTE:  Upgrading Hauser would upgrade our shooting.  He's averaging 21.1ppg in G-League (means little-to-nothing against that level of competition) but 41.2% from 3.  The G-League uses the NBA 3 line, of course, so a G-League 3 is an NBA 3.  That's only one out of 4 but, nevertheless...

As far as "The Celtis can't spend anything besides the minimum" goes who did we have on the bottom 1/3 of the roster that was worth more than the minimum?  Romeo?  Barely.  If he wasn't on his rookie contract he'd be on the veteran's minimum (or G-League).  Enes?  He is on the veteran's minimum this year.  Same with Bruno.  So, if we replace Romeo and Enes and Bruno and Juancho with either young talent or veterans who can still get the job done albeit in fewer mpg (e.g. IT) then how have we weakened our bench?  The bottom 3rd of the bench stunk before these trades, replacing them with some proven, hungry 30-something veterans can't be worse.  Who would you rather have in the bottom 3rd, IT or Romeo?

Schroder was going.  Done deal.  We got Theis.  He isn't the board monster Enes is but he can spell 'defense'.

I'm surprised Josh is gone, the rumors were we wanted to keep him.  

We were all clamoring for Pritchard and Nesmith to get minutes.  Well, two of the players in front of them on the depth chart are gone and only one of the players that came to Boston is in front of them.  That should give us what we asked for, right?  Be careful what you ask for, you might get it.



.

Really liked Josh. I considered him a keeper. Welp! So much for that.

gyso wrote:

Ktron wrote:8 mil for someone who puts up screens…

Maybe I can get him to come 'round my place.  Mine are full of holes.  

Gyso now that is funny!