Coby White is one of several Chicago Bulls players on an expiring contract, and he's drawn interest before the Feb. 5 trade deadline. The team set a price of a first-round pick for the 25-year-old guard, but per Joel Lorenzi of The Athletic, the Bulls have "struggled in early attempts" to receive a first-rounder for White (subscription required).
Lorenzi wrote that the "reluctance" from opposing teams is due to how much the guard will want on his next contract, as well as the calf issues he's dealt with. That reluctance isn't surprising.
White didn't sign an extension before the season started, and made it clear he isn't willing to sign one during the season. He entered 2025-26, choosing to bet on himself, believing that his next contract should pay him at least $30 million annually.
His numbers are down from what they were the past two seasons, as are the number of games he's played due to a pesky calf injury. White is averaging 18.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 4.8 assists per game, shooting 43.9% from the field and a career-low 35% from three in 29 minutes across 28 games.
As Lorenzi wrote, it seems like Chicago is focused on its young core of Josh Giddey, Matas Buzelis, and Noa Essengue. While it's not a foregone conclusion that the team will trade White, given that they shouldn't give him the kind of contract he wants, a trade needs to happen before Thursday's deadline, but it won't be for what the Bulls hoped to receive.
Teams not willing to give up a first-round pick for Coby White
White will become an unrestricted free agent this summer, and although he has spoken highly of the past seven years he's spent in Chicago, that doesn't mean he's willing to re-sign with the Bulls on a discounted deal (again). If he wanted to do that, it would've already happened. He wants his money.
It didn't hurt for the Bulls to try to get a first-round pick in return for him, but as they've learned, that's improbable. Not only are teams more conscious than ever of how much they're spending, especially for a player who hasn't hit the All-Star level, they're more careful than ever when it comes to calf injuries after what happened in the 2025 playoffs.
In other words, they don't want to part with a first-round pick for a player who they'll have to pay up to keep, who has missed time this season while managing a calf injury.
None of this means a White trade won't happen, but it means the Bulls will have to lower their asking price to get a deal done.