Now that the Bulls have agreed to terms with Josh Giddey, their next big free agency domino will be Coby White’s contract. White is slated to hit unrestricted free agency next offseason, and the Bulls appear open to negotiations only if he proves he’s deserving of a significant contract. With the upcoming season being a contract year, he’ll need to make some major strides to solidify his big payday.
White is one of the most improved players in the NBA over the last couple of seasons. Voters agreed when they ranked him second for the Most Improved Player vote in 2024. He is now one of the most prolific three-point shooters in the entire association, both in general and especially off the dribble.
Coby White must prove he's worthy of a substantial contract
Despite putting up solid numbers last season, highlighted by 20.4 points per game, White will still need to show plenty more to get the contract he desires from Chicago. Reports had him aiming for the $30 million annual amount, which the Bulls showed reluctance to hand out to Giddey.
White has definitely shown more consistent production than Giddey, whose stats really only blew up late last season. However, the Bulls’ cap situation has become more complicated after making a long-term commitment to Giddey.
Without significant team success, the Bulls may not be willing to offer White a contract worth $25 million or more per season. In order to commit that much combined money to their future backcourt, the Bulls will want to see some evidence of team success. In a weakened Eastern Conference next year, that should mean making legitimate playoff noise (not just sneaking into the play-in as per usual).
White’s shooting and scoring are already formidable, but he can make improvements in other areas to prove his worth. One obvious area is playmaking—White has averaged right around five assists per game the last two seasons and can certainly increase that number. He won’t have the ball in his hands as much as Giddey will, but White draws so much attention from defenses with his scoring gravity that he’ll have ample playmaking opportunities.
Another area for improvement, which can also have an outsized impact on team success, is defense. Playing next to Giddey, who is 6-foot-8 and not the quickest perimeter defender, White will often be asked to defend elite opposing guards. No one is expecting him to become Tony Allen suddenly, but showing more resistance than in previous seasons will help White secure his next contract and improve Chicago's overall defense.
The Bulls have shown some fiscal hesitance in their negotiations with Giddey, and that’s likely to continue into next offseason with Coby White. Given the current circumstances, White is unlikely to secure the contract he desires, but a few key improvements this season could change that.