Rockets could make a move for star Celtics guard to cement their championship hopes

As the Houston Rockets have reshaped their roster this offseason, they appear to have assembled the necessary pieces to contend, having put together a formidable team on both sides of the ball.

Yet, while the addition of Kevin Durant has changed the construction of this team drastically, they could still desperately use another ball-handler alongside veteran Fred VanVleet, and the Boston Celtics' recent fire sale could net them the perfect solution in Derrick White.

With Jayson Tatum's unfortunate Achilles injury in the second round of the playoffs last year, Boston is prepared to ease off of their spending, and, having already moved on from multiple veterans, it is not out of the realm of possibility that they would be willing to move one more.

Derrick White could be the perfect addition for this Rockets squad

As the Rockets ascended to the second seed in the Western Conference last season, it was on the shoulders of their elite defensive play. Players such as Dillon Brooks, Amen Thompson and Alperen Sengun made this team a formidable opponent to face, and, over the course of the season, they posted a 110.3 defensive rating: the fifth-best in the league.

Their offense, however, was middle-of-the-pack, and their move to bring in Durant this offseason signified a stark shift in direction in order to balance out their attack.

Now, however, the team does not have much proven depth behind VanVleet. Neither Aaron Holiday nor Reed Sheppard have proven they can be anything more than role players to this point, and the current construction of the roster will likely force Thompson to slide into the shooting guard spot in order to keep him in the starting lineup.

Boston, however, could have the solution to this. Having already moved on from Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis through trades, the organization seems prepared to undergo a soft reset. White, who is entering the first year of a four-year, $118 million extension with the Celtics, could certainly be moved to save further spending.

As Boston attempts to rebuild around their core of Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum, the Rockets' wealth of young talent could entice the team into negotiations. While it would likely be a hefty package, perhaps some combination of Sheppard, Holiday, Clint Capela (who cannot be trade until December 15) or even Jabari Smith Jr. (in a larger trade) could get the deal done.

White, however, might be worth such a package. He would immediately elevate Houston on both sides of the ball and give them a defensive depth that rivals any team in the league.

Therefore, while it still remains an outside possibility that the Celtics will choose to move any more of their big pieces, the Rockets should certainly keep an eye on the availability of White.