Fire up any trade machine, and Coby White’s name is bound to pop up. Discussions about his future have been ongoing since last season, when the Chicago Bulls first considered him a trade candidate.
Coby White’s trade conundrum
Chicago knew what was coming. White was once again outperforming his $12 million-per-year contract. Last season, the North Carolina product averaged 20.4 points, 4.5 assists, and 2.9 three-pointers per game. Heading into the offseason, a contract extension didn’t make sense—the Bulls would at most pay him $89 million over four seasons.
White is now averaging 18.8 points per game while battling a series of injuries, but the dilemma remains. $12 million per season is far too little for a player of his caliber. With his three-year deal expiring after this season, his trade candidacy has become even more urgent.
In recent weeks, the Bulls have been gauging the trade market, with several teams showing interest—most notably the Minnesota Timberwolves. Despite the reported inquiries, a deal doesn’t seem likely, largely because of White’s impending contract extension.
Chicago’s history of questionable trades
Stop me if you’ve heard this before. A deal doesn’t seem likely? Nope, and it’s a story we’ve seen time and time again. Chicago has churned through too many trade candidates in recent years. First, the wing duo of DeMar DeRozan and Zach LaVine, then Lonzo Ball and Nikola Vucevic. Now it’s Vucevic once more—and White joins the list.
The Bulls let DeRozan hit unrestricted free agency, then sent him in a sign-and-trade to the Sacramento Kings for Chris Duarte, now out of the NBA, and two second-round picks. Not exactly a great return, right? Nope. The grass isn’t always greener.
Then, Chicago held onto LaVine for far too long, finally trading him, again to the Kings, in a three-team deal that brought Zach Collins, Kevin Huerter, and Tre Jones to the Bulls. The trade also returned Chicago’s first-round pick from the San Antonio Spurs, though that pick could have conveyed regardless.
Lastly, the Bulls turned the tables by extending Ball ahead of last season’s trade deadline, only to trade him to the Cleveland Cavaliers for Isaac Okoro at the start of free agency. What makes it maddening? The Bulls reportedly had an offer for a first-round pick before extending him.
Of course, Vucevic hasn’t been traded—but now, entering his second season on the trade block, it looks like Chicago might not be able to move him at all. What once could have netted a few second-round picks has turned into… nothing. It's the same old story.
Will history repeat with White?
It’s the same old story that will likely be told with White. Chicago doesn’t necessarily want to trade him (he’s still a valuable piece), but his contract situation is pressing. Ideally, the Bulls could move him for draft capital and an intriguing player in return. Yet that may not happen, leaving them stuck with the 26-year-old through the offseason.
As we’ve learned, keeping White into the offseason will likely lead to one of two outcomes: a trade that nets minimal return (hello, sign-and-trade) or re-signing the scoring guard to an exorbitant deal, much like LaVine. It’s a painful history, and unfortunately, it looks set to repeat.