2) Chicago Bulls valuable trade chips ahead of deadline
Coby White, Point Guard
While the Bulls new front office regime likely isn’t looking to shop the likes of the former North Carolina Tar Heels second-year point guard Coby White at any point soon, he shouldn’t be off the table in trade discussions this season completely. White has yet to really capitalize on the momentum he built up down the stretch last season.
White was sensational for the Bulls down the stretch last season, but his efficiency and spark to the backcourt rotation just haven’t been there so far this year. The per game stats and shooting percentages look mostly improved for White this season compared to last. But there’s also some dips in his overall efficiency, especially on the defensive end of the floor.
As one of the biggest defensive liabilities that exists in this Bulls rotation this season, White has a clear point where he can impress in his game in the near future.
So far this season (prior to tip off against the Magic heading into the weekend), White played in 20 games for the Bulls (all of which he’s started in). And he’s averaged around 34 minutes on the floor per game. White has also averaged 15.3 points per game, 4.7 rebounds, 5.7 assists, 0.5 steals, and 0.1 blocks. He’s shot 40.2 percent from the field, 35.4 percent from beyond the arc, and 85.7 percent from the free-throw line.
That all has amounted to a career-worst -4.1 box plus/minus rating, -0.4 value over replacement player rating, just .028 win shares per 48 minutes, 0.4 total win shares, 103 offensive rating/116 defensive rating, and 52.1 true shooting percentage, and a 10.8 player efficiency rating.
Given some slight developments in White’s game, combined with the fact that he’s still as young as he is (still just 20 years of age), makes his trade value pretty high still at this moment.