3) Players dragging the Chicago Bulls down of late
Coby White, Point Guard
The play of the Bulls second-year 20-year-old former North Carolina Tar Heels point guard Coby White of late is not what this team needed out of the gates for the second half of the regular season slate. White is not playing up to his ability, and his inconsistencies are the main reason why the Bulls new front office regime could be looking at making a deadline deal to land a true point guard.
With the likes of fourth-year power forward Lauri Markkanen and veteran small forward Otto Porter Jr. returning to the rotation after the All-Star Break, it’s not the volume scoring ability of White that the Bulls need the most. They need him to be a spark plug both as a shot creator and distributor on the offensive end of the floor when Markkanen and star shooting guard Zach LaVine are not commanding the scoring.
White’s per game stats and advanced metrics look pretty similar to how they did during his rookie campaign. And that will become more and more problematic down the stretch if his efficiency doesn’t pick up in the very near future.
In his two games back since the All-Star Break, White has averaged around 13 points per game, 2.5 rebounds, and 4.5 assists. But he’s shot just 34.5 percent from the field while posting a 45 true shooting percentage, 101 offensive rating, and 114 defensive rating.
The Bulls need White to be better if he is to hold his spot at the one in the starting five over the long haul. His play this season has not improved thus far as many fans in the Windy City thought it was after a solid finish to his rookie season.