Even after trading leading scorer and two-time All-Star Zach LaVine to the Sacramento Kings at the trade deadline, the Chicago Bulls' backcourt is its strongest asset. Led by Josh Giddey and Coby White, the duo averages 32.4 points and 11.2 assists per game.
However, since LaVine's departure, the tandem has taken their respective games to the next level. Following February 3, the duo has averaged 40.5 points, 12.0 rebounds, 11.3 assists, and 5.2 three-pointers per contest. Giddey and White have recorded an impressive 10.5 net rating together since the All-Star break.
Giddey's fantastic stretch couldn't have come at a better time. After months of mediocre contributions and stagnation following his departure from the Oklahoma City Thunder, Giddey has produced at an All-Star level prior to entering restricted free agency this summer. While the Aussie's early season performances were inconclusive of a long-term deal, he's solidified his status with the Bulls moving forward.
Aside from the 22-year-old Giddey, Chicago won't have many difficult decisions regarding its 2025 free agency class. The Bulls' other pending free agents are the recently acquired Tre Jones and Talen Horton-Tucker. Moreover, its 2026 class will comprise seven players, including White.
Coby White's looming 2026 free agency
White's upcoming free agency is arguably more divisive than Giddey's. The 25-year-old guard is underpaid, earning merely $24.8 million over the next two seasons—he's the sixth-highest paid player on the team. Nonetheless, he ranks in the top three in minutes, points, assists, steals, three-pointers, free throws, and usage rate.
There is and will continue to be a real debate about whether White is a franchise cornerstone beyond this season. Chicago is a team in flux. After numerous middling seasons, the Bulls finally decided on a clear direction, trading LaVine and recouping its 2025 first-rounder. The future is clearly of the essence, and the 25-year-old White has yet to solidify himself as part of Chicago's future.
If White's contract were coming to an end after this season, the decision to retain the former North Carolina Tar Heel would likely be easier. Re-signing White would be a no-brainer. However, the Bulls' next season holds much more weight than this. After adding a potential top-10 draft pick to the mix and observing another season of Giddey, Matas Buzelis, and other youngsters, the Bulls will better understand their future.
Next season, all eyes will be on White. His immediate returns post-LaVine teetered toward disappointing. In February, the 6-foot-5 guard averaged 17.5 points and shot only 38.5 percent from the floor. White has fared much better in March. He's scored 21 or more points in every contest, which included a 44-point outing against the Orlando Magic. White is averaging 29.0 points per game and shooting 48.2 percent from the floor through four contests in March.
White doesn't necessarily need to maintain his torrid March pace into next season. Settling around 23 points, four assists, and four rebounds while converting 45 percent of his field goals and 38 percent of his three-pointers would be enough for the former seventh-overall pick to paint a compelling picture as a go-to option.
Nonetheless, it is likely understood by now that he's better-suited as a secondary creator. He's a skilled scorer, albeit one that's wildly inconsistent. That's where the X-factor terminology comes in. If White reigns it in, there's a high likelihood he'll remain a Bull until he's 30 years old. Without looking too far ahead, White must take another leap in the near future, improving his consistency and efficiency as the primary perimeter option.