During a stream for Bleacher Report, Jake Fischer noted that Chicago Bulls guard Coby White may want more than $30 million annually in his next contract, and it’s made the organization’s decision painfully clear: Trade him this season before he asks for that type of money. For as good as White is, he’s almost definitely not a $30 million player.
“The Bulls have to be factoring in the fact that Coby White is going to be up for a massive payday himself next year,” Fischer said. “And there’s already buzz of Coby White wanting even higher than that $30 million average annual figure we keep talking about.”
The question is, where do the Bulls go from here?
What should the Bulls do with Coby White?
For the past two years, White has been one of the most exciting players in Chicago. He’s been an impressive scorer, emerging as one of the most intriguing young guards in the NBA. But paying him $30 million per season would be a mistake for the Bulls.
There’s a clear cap on a team that’s paying White that much money. He could be solid as a playoff team’s third scoring option, but the rest of the squad would have to be filled out perfectly. That’s not the Bulls.
Instead of paying White a ton of money and solidifying their place as one of the NBA’s middle-ground teams for the next five years, they should trade him while he’s still on his current contract, extract the most value possible, and head into a pseudo-rebuild.
Trading White for draft capital would help the Bulls build around the other pieces of their young core and continue tanking during a year where tanking may be more important than ever.
If Chicago can land one of Darryn Peterson, Cameron Booker, or AJ Dybantsa in next year’s NBA Draft, it would set them up beautifully moving forward. Trading White could help them tank while also avoiding dishing out a massive overpay.
In the right situation, White could be a solid player, especially if he’s on the right contract. But paying him over $30 million annually is not that contract, especially not in Chicago.
Teams around the league should show plenty of interest in White, who can give them a solid 20 points per game if given the right role, or be a complementary scorer for their stars.
Chicago should trade White while they still have the chance, and mostly so they don’t have to pay him a ton of money.