Colorado Professional Athletes

Colorado alumni are making noise as NBA training camps open, with two Buffs drawing attention for very different reasons — and a third quietly working through some personal business in Boston.

Da Silva Already on Sweeney's Radar in Orlando

Less than 48 hours into Magic training camp, Tristan da Silva had already earned a shoutout from new head coach Sean Sweeney. As Orlando wrapped up its second day of practice, Sweeney singled out the forward while breaking down the team's progress installing his offensive system — a notable moment this early in the process, when coaches are typically focused on the collective rather than individuals.

Da Silva, who spent his first NBA seasons developing into a versatile wing, appears to be embracing the new regime in Orlando. Getting praised by a first-year head coach during the opening stretch of camp is the kind of signal that sets a tone for a roster still figuring out its identity. For Buffs fans, it's an encouraging sign that da Silva is positioning himself as more than a depth piece in the Magic's rebuild.

Pritchard Entering Year 7 With a Point to Prove

Meanwhile in Boston, Payton Pritchard has a message heading into his seventh NBA season: stop trying to define him. The Celtics guard, who played a pivotal role in Boston's surprising playoff run last season — the team advanced as the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference despite low expectations — is pushing back on any attempt to limit his perceived ceiling.

Pritchard's longevity alone tells a story. Seven seasons is a career in the NBA for most players without a max contract attached. He's carved out staying power through shooting, savvy, and an ability to be exactly what the Celtics need off the bench or in the starting lineup on any given night. His teammates Jaylen Brown and fellow Buff Derrick White were credited alongside Pritchard for driving that unexpected postseason push.

White Carrying Offseason Weight Into Camp

Derrick White's storyline is quieter but worth tracking. At Celtics Media Day, White made what was described as an honest admission about a difficult 2025-26 season — and noted he's been working specifically on his shot heading into camp. The context is significant: Boston's roster has been reshuffled around him, with Paul George arriving to replace Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum returning healthy after an Achilles rupture. White is no longer just a complementary piece — in this new-look lineup, his role and production will matter more than ever.

Three Buffs. Three distinct NBA stories. Da Silva is a camp revelation, Pritchard is a seasoned veteran demanding respect on his own terms, and White is quietly doing the work that a new-look championship contender will need from him come April.

— AI-generated by FanDaily

If there's a Colorado alum dominating NBA offseason chatter this week, it's Derrick White — and the Celtics guard is pulling double duty as both a trade chip and a breakout candidate.

The Durant Proposal

A blockbuster trade concept circulating in NBA circles would send White to the Phoenix Suns as the centerpiece of a deal bringing Kevin Durant to Boston. The idea: pair Durant alongside Jayson Tatum and Paul George to form a new Celtics Big 3, instantly making them a formidable trio on paper. White's combination of two-way versatility and a reasonable contract makes him an attractive trade piece — which is, of course, a double-edged compliment. Being coveted enough to anchor a superstar acquisition says something about his value; being the one shipped out says something about the roster math.

For now, it's a proposal, not a deal. But the fact that White is the name attached to a Durant conversation speaks to how much his stock has risen since Colorado.

The Shooting Leap

Separate from the trade noise, White is drawing attention for what he might do on the court in 2026–27. Analysts predict he's poised to improve his shooting percentages from last season — a meaningful projection for a guard who has gradually evolved from defensive specialist to genuine offensive contributor. If the efficiency numbers tick upward, White becomes harder to move and more central to whatever Boston builds around Tatum and George.

The Bigger Picture in Boston

The Celtics enter the new season with a recognized vulnerability at guard. White, Payton Pritchard, and Mike Conley are the only established options at the position, and Boston's 15th roster spot remains open. Brad Stevens has room to maneuver, but the current depth chart puts significant pressure on White to log heavy minutes and deliver on both ends. That dual burden — potential trade bait by night, starting guard by day — is an unusual offseason limbo, but White has navigated bigger transitions since his days in Boulder.

The Rest of the Buffs

White isn't the only Colorado alum active in the league. Nique Clifford is with the Kings, Tristan Da Silva is on the Magic roster, KJ Simpson landed with the Nuggets, Jabari Walker is with the 76ers, Cody Williams joined the Timberwolves, Spencer Dinwiddie is in Charlotte, and Alec Burks is suiting up for the Heat. None generated the same volume of offseason storylines this week, but the sheer number of Buffaloes on NBA rosters underscores how consistently Colorado develops professional talent.

For now, the spotlight is squarely on White — a player who started his college career in Colorado Springs before transferring to Boulder, and who has spent the years since making himself indispensable enough that rebuilding a championship roster around him feels, at minimum, plausible.