Trading Coby White to New York would be win-win deal for Bulls
The Chicago Bulls have been mentioned in several different trade talks as the trade deadline approaches. There have been rumors that the Bulls have been shopping Coby White, something that has been talked about for a long time now. White came in with high expectations after being the 7th overall pick in the 2019 draft.
However, the 22-year-old guard has not quite reached the height that the Bulls had hoped. Whether or not this could be blamed on his own talent or rather his fit on this roster, is another story. White has been through a tumultuous time with the Bulls, going through many different role changes from a starter, to an offensive spark off the bench, and now to a role player.
Additionally, the abundance of guards on the Chicago Bulls has likely stunted White’s growth as a player, and therefore a trade would make sense for both sides, as the Bulls desperately need to free up guard space once Lonzo Ball eventually returns from injury.
White has been shooting extremely well recently, clocking in at a 43.2% from long-range in January. He has been one of the best shooters on the Bulls this season, which has likely added to his trade value. Additionally, White has shown increasing flashes of being a solid defender, as he has solid point guard size and can put in the effort:
One of the main issues with White’s defense, however, has been a lack of awareness at times. There have been several instances where White unnecessarily fouls his opponents, which has contributed to his poor defensive statistics. However, he is still only 22 and has plenty of room to develop, which should be encouraging for other franchises looking for a solid guard off the bench. With that in mind, here is a potential trade that could be beneficial for both teams involved:
A trade between the Chicago Bulls and New York Knicks could give Cam Reddish and Coby White the tools necessary tp reach their full potential.
The New York Knicks have been shopping Cam Reddish for some time now, as he has not fit in with the construction of the team since he arrived in January 2022. They have been looking to ship him by any means necessary, even asking for just a second-round pick. Reddish has also been injured recently, playing his last game on December 3. He is young, however, and is currently in a similar position as Coby White, where they do not fit in with their team but could be valuable elsewhere.
Last season, he played 25% of his minutes at the power forward, which shows Reddish’s versatility in both forward positions. He has the size for this at 6’8” and 215 pounds, which is comparable to Patrick Williams’ size. Even though his offense has needed some work, Reddish has shown out on the defensive end, showing the potential to be an elite defender:
Additionally, Reddish has shown flashes of solid shooting, even in clutch situations like this one:
https://twitter.com/incarceratedbob/status/1582917056143376385
Although Reddish has been underwhelming with the Knicks, he showed tremendous potential in his time with the Atlanta Hawks, averaging 11.1 points per game over 118 appearances and once again, showing excellent defense. With the Bulls lacking depth at the forward position, Reddish could provide the size necessary to give the Bulls a backup forward over 6’6”.
Although this move would not ultimately move the needle and make Chicago contenders, it is a valuable piece and the Bulls can provide a situation where Cam Reddish can develop into the player that scouts thought he can be.