The most important question the Chicago Bulls needed to answer this summer was whether Josh Giddey was worth the money. Now that they've made that call, the next logical step is to do whatever it takes to hold onto his backcourt mate, Coby White.
Giddey and the Bulls finally ended their everlasting stalemate (or so it felt) by agreeing to a four-year, $100 million contract that will keep the 22-year-old point guard in the Windy City through the 2029-30 season. It means long-term security for Giddey and a clear organizational path for Chicago that will be built around him and 20-year-old forward Matas Buzelis.
But White was a pivotal third wheel to that couple and to Bulls' head coach Billy Donovan's system. If the franchise wants to continue developing its young players, maintain some level of continuity and become a playoff contender again, the former North Carolina Tar Heel must play a crucial role.
Chicago Bulls must keep Coby White after reaching Josh Giddey deal
At 25, White still fits the Bulls' timeline. He's also a snug fit next to both of those young cornerstones, filling gaps and enhancing their respective games. No one will confuse them with LeBron James, Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh, but it's fair to call them Chicago's Big Three. Buzelis is on track to be a unique and explosive 6-foot-10 wing, Giddey is the jumbo floor general who runs the show and White is the shooter and scorer that spaces the floor and makes the offense roll downhill.
The Greensboro native is coming off a career year, undoubtedly buoyed by Giddey's presence beside him. White averaged 20.4 points on 45.3 percent shooting from the field and 37.0 percent from three on nearly eight attempts per game. After the Bulls traded Zach LaVine to the Sacramento Kings, White became the team's top scoring option. He averaged 26.0 points in his final 21 games and connected on 38.3 percent of his 154 threes, scoring at least 20 points in 18 of 19 contests between Feb. 28 and April 6.
Among all Bulls lineups that played at least 850 minutes last season, those with White and Giddey were third in offensive rating (112.8), tied for third in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.07) and fifth in pace (105.74). More than 45 percent of their possessions together ended in 3-point attempts and almost 40 percent ended in successful triples. Among all duos that played at least 20.0 minutes per game for Chicago, they scored the second-most points off turnovers, fourth-most points in transition and second-most points off free-throw attempts.
In short, when that pair was on the floor, the Bulls were highly successful at what Donovan wants to do: run in transition, take care of the ball, fire off open threes and finish possessions with points.
Buzelis is still on his rookie deal, and locking up Giddey is massive for the future. The next logical step is paying White and keeping the trio together.