In many ways, the Chicago Bulls’ 2021-22 season can be considered a success, even if it ends in a first-round exit. The team made its first playoff appearance in five years and had All-Star-caliber seasons from Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan. But as well as the team performed relative to expectations, not every player could say the same — most notably third-year guard Coby White.
White’s role on the team has been constantly changing ever since he arrived back in 2019. He went from a key reserve as a rookie to an everyday starter in 2020 before being relegated back to a bench role to start the 2021 season. White did play some key minutes for the Bulls with Alex Caruso and Lonzo Ball missing considerable time with injuries, but his role on the team was as undefined as ever.
When the Bulls selected White seventh overall in the 2019 NBA Draft, his skillset was pretty straightforward: a combo guard with natural scoring ability and solid upside. The pick made sense at the time since the Bulls were still completing their rebuild, and White, by most accounts, was the best player available.
White may have been the right pick for the 2019 Bulls, but his fit on the 2022 team is looking more and more questionable. White’s primary strength is as a scorer, but with the additions of Nikola Vucevic and DeRozan, the Bulls don’t need as much scoring, as their three best players are primarily scorers.
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Coby White’s recent struggles have raised questions about his future with the Bulls
Even when coming off the bench, White’s playing time has greatly fluctuated throughout the season. Guys like Caruso and Ayo Dosunmu aren’t necessarily more talented than White; in fact, most executives around the league would say the exact opposite. But the two offer the Bulls something they greatly need, which is energy on the defensive side of the ball. Even with Ball out of the lineup, White still isn’t a top priority on offense.
White has had some nice moments in his third season, but he hasn’t been able to build off the flashes we saw from him as a rookie. Though there is a noticeable growth in certain aspects of his game, such as defense, the overall product hasn’t improved very much. This lack of progression in a former lottery pick is more likely the product of a team that cannot properly utilize him than a direct reflection of the player’s ability.
Coby White and Patrick Williams both off to rough starts.
— K.C. Johnson (@KCJHoop) April 24, 2022
This isn’t to say anyone on the Bulls roster or coaching staff is at fault. The team has just reached a point where White doesn’t offer them enough of what they need — and vice versa. The Bulls don’t need more scorers, they already have enough as is. But it’s not fair to White to force him into a role he was never meant to play. Through the first four games of the Bulls’ series against the Bucks, White has averaged 6.3 points on 31% shooting and has been limited to under 17 minutes a game.
It will be hard to sell low on a player as talented as White, but the Bulls may be left without much of a choice. As White’s rookie contract is coming to an end, it’s hard to envision a future for him in Chicago as long as they have LaVine and DeRozan. The Bulls would be wise to move White while he is still under contract for a player who better suits the team or a draft pick to help them address another area of need.
Coby White’s Game 1 performance vs Bucks shows his importance to Bulls
Chicago Bulls former lottery pick Coby White showed why he is a key piece to the team's future in the Game 1 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks.