The 2024 NBA champion Boston Celtics are approaching a problem with the salary cap, possibly opening the door for the San Antonio Spurs to reacquire Derrick White.

Derrick White, Tre JonesDerrick White, Tre Jones / Maddie Malhotra/GettyImages

The grand master plan is coming together perfectly for the San Antonio Spurs. In 2022, PAFTO traded Derrick White to the Boston Celtics. It was a painful decision for the front office and the fans. Everyone loved White and continues their admiration for the man to this day. Watching him win a championship felt like a full-circle moment, considering the self-doubt he had before becoming the D. White everyone saw making huge plays in TD Garden to help secure the title.

Despite that feeling, a full-circle moment would actually be the former Colorado Buffalo returning to the Spurs roster as a champion. He’s almost like a hired gun in Boston, and though you can be sure their fans love him, he is most likely going to be left on the outside looking in because of the salary cap penalties.

Timing may be everything if Spurs want White back

This worked out perfectly for both franchises. Boston got a championship that White was a major factor in, while San Antonio was bad enough to be in a position to acquire Victor Wembanyama. That is a win-win in every sense of the phrase. But now the Celtics are reaching a fork in the road with their superstar contracts adding up to astronomical heights.

Jayson Tatum is going to get a max extension, Jaylen Brown’s money is set to balloon, you have to pay Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday is on a four-year $135 million deal. They won’t have the funds to pay White and he’s entering the last year on his deal. Fortunately, for the Celtics, the Spurs need veteran leadership, so the elite shot-blocking guard San Antonio sent off in a deal two years ago needs to return now.

The Celtics have been known to stack assets, similar to what OKC is famous for and San Antonio currently does. Boston would be smart to trade White instead of letting him walk in free agency next summer. If they make him available, there would likely be plenty of suitors. Still, if his preferences matter to the organization, the Spurs should have a leg up on the competition, and bringing Derrick back would be one of the best moves the franchise could make.