Jayson Tatum Faces Tough Phone Call Over Derrick White’s Trade to Rockets, Proposes Bill Simmons

Fred VanVleet’s situation with the Houston Rockets just got a lot more complicated. The 31-year-old guard, who’s been a key contributor since arriving in Houston in 2023, now faces a lengthy recovery after suffering a torn ACL—even after re-signing a two-year, $50M deal with a player option for 2026–27. With VanVleet’s availability uncertain, the Rockets will reportedly need to explore other ways to shore up their point guard position.

Bill Simmons recently floated a bold proposal: bringing Celtics guard Derrick White to Houston. Reflecting on the conversation, he said, “It’s a tough phone call to [Jayson] Tatum. Heard the rehab’s going great and- to Jaylen [Brown], too. Heard the rehab’s going great. We’ve traded Derrick White. It’s a bunch of assets that won’t help you guys until about three years from now.”

Simmons envisions a scenario where the Rockets could acquire White in exchange for a package that might include first-round picks and young players, effectively turning the VanVleet setback into a potential opportunity.

(This is a developing story…)