It sounds like Bulls rumors are really starting to ramp up involving the currently-recovering guard Coby White on the trade market. But before I get into this piece, I want to clarify that the Chicago Bulls’ third-year point guard and former North Carolina Tar Heel Coby is a personal favorite player of mine. And he is a guard that still looks to have a solid future ahead likely as part of a lengthy NBA career for him.
Essentially all indications have pointed to Coby as a positive presence to this locker room that also brings a lot of positive energy for this fan base.
With all of the moves that the Bulls’ front office made since the trade deadline last season, though, it feels like the writing is on the wall for White. Executive vice president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas and general manager Marc Eversley have made essentially every piece of the previous Bulls young core available in trade talks since the 2021 deadline.
And it feels like the same could be true for Coby ahead of the trade deadline this season. The Bulls are moving this franchise to a position where they want to win now. And that could come at the expense of trading White.
The main reason why it would likely be smart for Karnisovas and the Bulls to dish out Coby before too long is the fact that his trade value is still pretty high. If the Bulls had traded power forward Lauri Markkanen ahead of the trade deadline last season, they could’ve received a lot more in return than they did during the offseason.
Granted, Karnisovas and Eversley did a nice job over the summer to get small forward Derrick Jones Jr. from the Portland Trail Blazers in the three-team sign-and-trade deal that saw Markkanen land with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Bulls rumors indicating front office might make Coby White available in trade talks this season
According to a report from Michael Scotto of Hoops Hype in a piece published this weekend, White could be made “expendable” by the Bulls’ front office at some point this season.
Here’s more on what this piece from Scotto on Hoops Hype had to say about White being made available in potential trade talks this season by the Bulls.
"Following the offseason additions of Ball, DeMar DeRozan and Alex Caruso, White could be expendable.“I think Coby could get moved if they feel like they need a piece,” as one NBA executive predicted. “I like Coby. He’s a guy who needs to get to a situation where he can play.”White is under team control for two seasons and is eligible for restricted free agency until the summer of 2023."
If the Bulls aren’t planning on re-upping White in the next year or so, it would likely make the most sense to dish him out while this team could put together a solid postseason run during the 2021-22 campaign.
White could still hold a valuable role in this rotation as a volume-scoring guard that can spark the offense. But there are other guards that could fill a similar role at a cheaper cost in terms of average annual salary in the coming years compared to White.
Whether the Bulls’ front office decides to keep White, or part ways with him at some point this season, this team should have a key piece to help to make this one of the stronger benches in the Eastern Conference.
All in all, White’s status with the Bulls likely hinges largely on how he produces once he returns from a shoulder procedure early this season. The Bulls are set to get White back in the rotation likely by mid-November. If he struggles upon his return this season, that could make him more expendable in the eyes of Karnisovas and Eversley.
Following a win over the Detroit Pistons at home at the United Center on the night of Oct. 23, the Bulls are sporting a record of 3-0. Next up for the Bulls is a key meeting with the Toronto Raptors on the road on Oct. 25, with tip-off time set for 6:30 p.m. CT.