Bench: Coby White
If we were evaluating which of these three players possessed the best all-around skill set, my vote would have to go to Coby White. After displaying a marked improvement in both his ball-handling and defensive skills last season, Coby appears ready to take a leap and become a true two-way threat in this league.
Despite playing the fewest minutes per game and posting the worst box score averages of his career, last season was arguably Coby’s most impactful in the NBA. As he was allowed to focus in on the finer details of the game, White’s shooting splits rocketed up while the advanced stats suggest he became significantly more impactful on the defensive end.
Coby White’s rapid development may have him in the running for the Bulls starting job soon, but not quite yet.
Unfortunately for him, that’s also why I believe he’s a more valuable asset off the bench. I could see Coby thriving in the same role that Manu Ginobili revolutionized for the San Antonio Spurs once upon a time. Having a weapon like White come off the bench means the Bulls won’t have to lose out on any offensive production even when LaVine or DeMar DeRozan have to rest.
Now, if he can continue adding to the improvements we saw last year, I have no doubt in Coby’s ability to become a full-time starter in the near future. Particularly if his ball-handling and court vision continue steadily improving, he may just become the point guard the Bulls envisioned next to LaVine when he was originally drafted in 2019. To begin the season, however, I believe starting Carter and letting Coby continue working on his game as a reserve player is the best move for Chicago.