The wagons have been circling on a potential Coby White trade all season long, but it's reaching a fever pitch now. According to NBA Insider Marc Stein (subscription needed), the Bulls are more open to moving White than they've ever been before.
There are obviously reasons to consider trading him, but White's recent play shows the grave mistake that the Bulls could be making by giving up on him too early.
Coby White still has star potential
In the Bulls' recent successful stretch, White has helped lead the offense to incredible heights. His own efficient scoring and constant shooting threat have driven Chicago's potent attack. He's quietly one of the league's most underrated offensive players and a walking 20 points per game, even when his shot isn't falling.
White has also addressed some other concerns about his fit on a winning team in recent games. His defense has been a common source of criticism over the years, especially considering his smaller stature for a shooting guard. But he's been able to coexist and thrive with fellow small guard Tre Jones on both ends of the court.
Unfortunately, the Bulls are in a very tough financial situation with White. He's currently one of the NBA's most underpaid players at $12.9 million this season. That makes it impossible to negotiate a direct contract extension, as his true value is significantly greater than his current salary.
All of that points to White becoming an unrestricted free agent next summer and likely leaving Chicago.
The Bulls are desperate to get any value from him before that happens. That's where trade rumors come in. But sending out White now could give the Bulls more regrets in the long run. We've seen similar stories play out in the past -- most notably with Jimmy Butler.
In 2017, the Bulls traded away Butler at the ripe age of 27. Despite already having made three All-Star teams and entering his prime, the Bulls felt that Butler wasn't good enough to lead them to title contention. They opted to rebuild instead around Zach LaVine and returning draft compensation.
We all know how the rest goes. Butler bounces around a few teams but ultimately ends up in Miami. There, he emerges as a superstar for the Heat and leads them to multiple Finals appearances. Meanwhile, the Bulls are stuck in perpetual mediocrity as LaVine's tenure is marked by play-in appearances.
Coby White doesn't necessarily have the same potential as Jimmy Butler, but he could be another breakout star if the Bulls trade him for little value. He's a perfect complementary scorer in today's NBA, and the Bulls would be wise to consider keeping him around longer.