The Chicago Bulls have already made four trades, and it’s not even February 5!
First, the Bulls acquired Dario Šarić and a second-round pick, acting as a facilitator in a trade between the Cleveland Cavaliers and Sacramento Kings. Then, Chicago took a gamble on former fifth-overall pick Jaden Ivey as part of a three-team deal involving the Detroit Pistons and Minnesota Timberwolves. Third, the Bulls swapped Nikola Vučević and a second-round pick for Anfernee Simons and an improved 2026 second-round selection.
Bulls finally trade Coby White
Now, Chicago has finally parted ways with longtime trade candidate Coby White. According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, the Bulls sent White and Mike Conley Jr. (who had been acquired in the three-team Ivey trade) to the Charlotte Hornets in exchange for Collin Sexton, Ousmane Dieng, and three second-round picks.
Just in: The Chicago Bulls are trading Coby White and Mike Conley Jr. to the Charlotte Hornets for Collin Sexton, Ousmane Dieng and three second-round picks, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/NnHXT5b8lR
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 4, 2026
It was clear that Chicago was going to part ways with Coby White, a situation dating back to the offseason when the front office made a long-term commitment to Josh Giddey. Signing Giddey to a four-year deal made White expendable. The North Carolina product was set for a new contract in 2026—one that would have paid him a significant sum. As a result, Chicago didn’t want to commit more than $200 million to a backcourt featuring both White and Giddey.
Bulls' trade return falls short
However, it’s now clear that Chicago waited too long to trade White. The 25-year-old enjoyed a career year in 2024–25, averaging 20.4 points, 3.7 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and 2.9 made three-pointers per game, even earning Eastern Conference Player of the Month honors in March for his standout contributions.
White’s value peaked after the 2024–25 season, thanks to a career year and another season remaining on his affordable contract. But after he declined the four-year, $87 million extension (the maximum the Bulls could offer), potential suitors certainly grew cautious. On top of that, an offseason calf injury left Chicago entering the 2025–26 season with White sidelined, further complicating the team’s ability to move him while his value was high.
The debilitating pattern seemed to continue as White struggled upon returning from injury. He showed flashes early on, but lingering calf issues forced him to miss additional games and sit out back-to-backs. His scoring dipped to 16.9 points per game in December and only climbed to 17.8 in January, while his shooting efficiency suffered. Overall, in 29 games this season, he’s averaged 18.6 points and 2.5 made threes per game, shooting 43.8 percent from the field and 34.6 percent from three.
With financial pressures weighing on the Bulls’ front office, they opted to move White for whatever return they could get—and it ended up being underwhelming. Sexton is a solid player, somewhat similar to White, but he’s on an expiring contract. Dieng, a 22-year-old former lottery pick, has untapped potential, but four seasons in, he hasn’t fully delivered. The second-round picks are a nice bonus, but in the context of White? They hardly move the needle.
It’s simply not a good trade. Moving White was the right idea, but doing it so late undermined his value. The hope is that the second-round picks can be leveraged to land a much bigger asset. If not, this deal could ultimately earn an F.