The Atlanta Hawks have officially put Trae Young on the trade market, but are receiving little interest, a story that should be familiar to Chicago Bulls fans. Chicago has shopped Coby White ahead of his impending contract extension, but his value has diminished around the league. Like Young, White is also a talented offensive player whose defensive flaws give teams pause before trading for him.
Coby White is headed for a rough trade season
Young hasn't seen the floor much this season; he's dealt with a litany of injuries. White has also missed plenty of time with injuries, which is hurting his trade value further. The less information another team has about White, the more hesitant they will be to acquire him.
For a potential trade suitor, it's concerning that the Bulls have not been substantially better when White has played. The Bulls have a very similar record with him (at 8-9) and without him (at 9-10). Despite his talent, it's clear that his play does not have a huge impact on winning. His defense is the biggest culprit; he's not very active on that end and has a smaller frame.
White is a potent scorer, but his efficiency has dipped this season. It's terrible timing for the young guard in a contract season. He's up for unrestricted free agency next summer, and that complicates his trade situation even further. Any prospective team considering his services has to worry about the possibility of losing him after a few months or having to sign him to a massive extension.
The financial component is also something working against Young. He's on a massive contract, making over $45 million this season and next before entering free agency. That makes him doubly unattractive as a trade target—hugely expensive but not secured for the long term.
White isn't quite as bad off as Young, but he likely won't have many suitors on the trade market either. Both the Bulls and White himself are hurt by his lack of trade value. A big trade could mean getting some value back for the Bulls and give White another opportunity to shine in a new environment.
Teams in need of shooting and scoring could benefit if they can cover White's defensive weaknesses. Playing in a better environment for a few months will then increase White's odds of receiving the contract extension he wants in the offseason. There's still time to repair his perception before the trade deadline and find a mutually beneficial trade for all parties.
The last thing the Bulls or White should want is a repeat of Young's situation, but that's where he's headed right now.