Chicago Bulls: 3 reasons why Coby White is not a star yet

1. There is the uncertainty of who will be coaching the Chicago Bulls next season

With the uncertainty of Jim Boylen being the head coach of the Bulls in the 2020-21 season, there is a good chance that the play style of the Bulls could change drastically. With that being said, a coaching change to young players has historically changed them for the good or the bad. There is a chance that White’s game could be thrown off as a result of a change in the playbook.

One of the most rumored candidates and potentially the best candidate for the Bulls is former Nets Head Coach, Kenny Atkinson. The hope for the Bulls in hiring Atkinson is that he can have an impact on the young Bulls that he had on the young Nets team in the 2018-19 season. Following a disappointing 28-54 season in 2017-18, Atkinson headed the Nets, led a fully healthy D’Angelo Russell and company, to a 42-40 record and the sixth seed.

Kenny Atkinson’s offensive revolved around the spread pick and roll, mainly revolving Russell as the ball-handler (2nd in possessions as P&R ball-handler in 2018 season) and Allen (T-10th in possessions as P&R roller in 2018 season) with three-point shooters spacing the court. Atkinson would likely bring this system to wherever he lands next.

There is no doubt in my mind if Wendell Carter Jr. could play that same Allen role for the Bulls. Carter is already used mainly as a roll man and a dump off guy on the Bulls this season, and that’s precisely how Allen was used. The fit there is no issue; rather, the question is the player to play the Russell role.

The Bulls’ 3 best playmakers this season have been Zach LaVine, Tomas Satoransky, and of course, White. None of these players have the all-around offensive game that Russell possessed for the Nets last season, as LaVine lacks the playmaking capabilities of D’Lo; Satoransky lacks the scoring ability of D’Lo, and lastly, White lacks in both arenas.

I believe that White’s performance for next season depends on the role that White is placed into this hypothetical Atkinson-ran offense. If White is placed as the main ball-handler in this action, I could see him struggling if he doesn’t make a large progression in one of the scoring or playmaking compartments.

Of Bulls with greater than 10 MPG and 10 possessions as the pick & roll ball-handler, White ranks sixth among them with 0.8 points per possession (41st percentile in NBA). With this being said, LaVine, the superior scorer and playmaker should remain as the ball-handler of this action due to his limited off-ball capabilities.

If placed in a spot-up and off ball-player, I think White could thrive there – among Bulls with 10 MPG and 10 possessions in spot-up situations, White ranks 5th of them with an improved 0.99 PPP (53rd percentile in NBA). With the same requirements, White is third in handoff situations with 0.89 PPP (48th percentile in NBA).

The main concern with placing White off-ball would be his ability to cooperate. Through White’s entire basketball career (both collegiate and professional), he has been a ball-dominant, score-first guard. Transitioning his whole game in a spread pick & roll offense where he isn’t the player making all of these plays could be challenging for a young player like White.

With this all being said, there is still a chance that Boylen remains the coach of the Bulls as reports have shown this with growing likelihood; regardless, just because White played good under Boylen towards the end of the season, the earlier, larger portion of the season cannot be ignored.

Overall, among the potential coaching changes in Chicago, there could be a large effect on some players, predominantly White.