Just as the NBA trade season begins to heat up, a Chicago Bulls player has caught the eye of a Western Conference rival looking to upgrade its point guard spot. According to Chicago Sun-Times’ Joe Cowley, the Minnesota Timberwolves have inquired about Coby White’s availability.
Cowley wrote, "The Minnesota Timberwolves have been big-game hunting for a point guard… The source said that Minnesota is not looking to wait until February and the trade deadline to get a deal done, looking to fix the primary ball-handling situation that’s been an issue all season long for them."
Wolves target point guard upgrade
Through the first quarter of the season, the Timberwolves have leaned on shooting guard Donte DiVencenzo as their de facto starting point guard. While DiVencenzo is a capable player, he isn’t exactly a traditional floor general. Minnesota’s other options are limited to 38-year-old Mike Conley, who has manned the role for the past two and a half seasons, and 20-year-old Rob Dillingham.
DiVencenzo currently ranks third on the team in assists. Meanwhile, Conley is at career lows with 5.3 points, 3.2 assists, and 19.1 minutes per game, and Dillingham is averaging just 3.7 points on 34.8 percent shooting.
The Wolves’ need for a point guard is pressing, as Cowley notes that Minnesota isn’t waiting to fill the void. On the other hand, the Bulls are sticking to their usual strategy of playing the waiting game.
Chicago holds the keys
Cowley outlined the Bulls' strategy, penning, "Despite currently sinking in a seven-game losing streak, Bulls executive vice president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas isn’t ready to fold his hand just yet. Maybe soon, but not yet. Karnisovas has preached 'competitive integrity' for years, so the idea of tanking isn’t on the table."
Karnisovas’ vision is a tried-and-true approach that’s proven reliably… mediocre.
White is a dynamic player who brings an explosive dimension few offenses can ignore. He’s as dangerous attacking downhill as he is from beyond the arc. Last season, White led all players in transition points, and this year he’s averaging 10.4 points per game on drives, while knocking down 2.3 triples per contest.
That brings us to the question: why trade such a focal offensive weapon? The answer is simple. Chicago is bad. The Bulls have dropped seven straight, and their myriad problems are too glaring to ignore. Plain and simple, Chicago doesn’t have the roster to compete.
Moreover, White is an impending free agent eyeing a new contract worth at least $30 million per year. The 25-year-old guard is currently playing on a $12 million deal, below the non-tax midlevel exception. He’s due for a sizable pay raise, and the Bulls know it.
Parting ways with White before the season’s end is clearly Chicago’s best option if they don’t plan to re-sign him. In fact, it’s probably their best move regardless, given this team is going nowhere, even with White on the roster.
With Minnesota reportedly expressing interest in White, the Bulls at least have a runway to work with. Chicago hasn’t made its vision clear—despite what Karnisovas says—amid a tumultuous stretch, but suddenly, there’s a real pathway to finally kickstart the rebuild.