The Bulls have received a number of trade inquiries about guard Coby White this offseason, but there has been no indication that they’re looking to move him as he enters a contract year, according to Ashish Mathur of Dallas Hoops Journal.
“I know multiple teams tried to trade for Coby this summer,” an NBA executive told Mathur. “There was some chatter that he was almost traded on draft night. The Bulls love him though. He’s not going anywhere. They have shot down trade inquiries for him.”
The idea that the Bulls may have nearly traded White on draft night and have also “shot down” inquiries on him seem to be at odds, but the executive’s remarks may indicate that the team hasn’t been willing to seriously engage on trade discussions regarding White since draft night.
The seventh overall pick in 2019, White was a regular rotation player off the bench for the Bulls for his first four seasons before taking on an increased role as a full-time starter over the past two years.
He set a career high with 19.1 points per game in 2023/24, then topped that figure with 20.4 PPG in ’24/25. The 25-year-old has also put up 4.8 assists and 4.1 rebounds per contest while making 37.3% of his three-pointers since the start of the ’23/24 season.
White emerged as Chicago’s go-to scoring option down the stretch this past spring after the team traded away Zach LaVine. The 6’5″ guard averaged 25.0 PPG in his final 25 outings and led the Bulls to a 17-8 record in those games.
While the Bulls did well to re-sign White to a three-year, $36MM contract as a restricted free agent in 2023, that team-friendly deal has made it virtually impossible to sign him to an extension before he reaches unrestricted free agency in 2026. Chicago could go up to about $87MM over four years, but White likely believes he’ll receive more lucrative offers on the open market next summer, either from the Bulls or another suitor (or both).
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There has been some speculation that an inability to extend White ahead of free agency might make the Bulls more inclined to consider trading him rather than risk losing him for nothing next summer, and Chicago may still consider that route before February’s trade deadline. But for now it sounds like the team is confident about its ability to re-sign White next July.
The Bulls will hold White’s full Bird rights and have a pretty clean cap sheet going forward, so they’re well positioned to make a strong offer in free agency, but they wouldn’t have the right of first refusal if the guard decides he wants to play elsewhere.
I’m shocked to agree with the Bulls on something. Coby White will be their next major superstar if they get out of his way. Look at the improvements he has made each and every off-season.
It’s not at odds to say they nearly traded him on draft night and then say they have shot down inquiries.
If they are blown away I’m sure they’d move him, and maybe they were close to that on draft night. It’s the GMs job to at least listen and if the offer isn’t something they want they shoot it down.
To me, “shot down inquiries” means they’re not even really entertaining ideas, whereas getting “close” suggests real discussions were had. But it’s all semantics. You’re right that it seems like he’s in “they’d have to be blown away” territory.
You are right here Luke, the two statements seem quite contradictory.
You keep Ayo, Phillips, Matas and Noa while trading everyone else for draft picks in next years draft. Draft picks draft picks. Rebuild. Tank. Start fresh.
Trade Patrick Williams for any expiring contract
Yes trade White for draft picks. White with all his hair is overrated anyway. Sixth man at best
‘with all his hair’ … them’s fightin words
en garde !
Trade Patrick Williams for any expiring contract-
That’s funny. There’s only one group of morons that would pay Williams salary and he’s already here. Can you trade somebody to yourself? Otherwise you’re just whistling past the Cemetery.
Agreed. What team is going to take on Patrick Williams’ four more years contract? Bulls are stuck indefinitely.
Thanks johnm for the normal reply. I am confused by everyone else’s replys. I’m not sure who would accept a deal for Patrick Williams but like you said at four years, that needs to go, that is their only bad contract and its a bad one if Williams regresses. They might need to attach picks of some sort to maybe do it. I would also trade Jalen Smith and Okoro for a expiring contract too.
Four years at 18m needs to go. Someone would accept the deal at the right price and time. Everyone has a price
No one would take pat will contrack. Akme so dumb gave him that contrack.
Colby a good player. He’s just rough around the edges. Has good vision and sense, but isn’t quite understanding how to control pace. That’s something that comes with time. He’s almost like a Chauncey billups, give him a minute and it will payoff
Morons.
If he’s your #3 player, you’re in great shape to win. If he’s your #2, then you’re a really good team but with limitations. If he’s your #1, ugh, then you’re battling to be the 7-10 seed and stuck in mediocrity. No surprise how this will play out.
Agreed. Appreciate what Coby has done in his career but realistically Coby will never be SGA, Donovan Mitchell or even Brunson. Coby is just a decent starter.
Coby can’t carry a team the way Greek freak, SGA or Jokic can.
Probably they are just not getting Wow offers for him and Bulls FO is stingy. They won’t even pay Giddey. If anyone can explain their plan to me I’d be curious to hear. Meanwhile Billy Donovan gets an extension…
Plan? Now that’s funny. I just spit miiiiiiidrnkln mon mikkkClllpootrrrrr
Bulls front office just make questionable decision after questionable decision.
Firstly why give Pat Will that deal hahahaha
Secondly you trade for Giddey cause you like the potential, he then has a really good season and you can’t come to terms on a contract extension.
Thirdly Coby White I really rate but your teams not even close to competitive, he’s already suggested he wants a big extension. Why would you not listen to offers on him?
You now want to cut Vuce cause you can’t find a trade for him even tho statistically he’s one of your 3 best players and it’s not like you’ve got a bunch of good options behind him.
You extend the Donovan and AK even tho they have achieved nothing year after year after year.
Look at the guys they’ve had, Lauri Markeneen Zach LaVine Demare DeRozan Daniel Gafford Alex Caruso Lonzo Ball Vuce White Giddey and that’s just in the last 5 years in which they’ve had 1 season with positive record
Imo the Bulls are the issue in Chicago. Their FO and coaching. They want to play an offense more like Thunder and Warriors. Yet don’t draft or have the personnel to do it. Why would you go after Giddey if you don’t believe in him. They have retooled this team three times. Since moving on from DeM and Zach.
Coby has actually progressed nicely. Imo he and Giddey are a good mix. What they need is guys who will play D. I just don’t see an end game with this franchise. And resigning Donovan solidifies that to me. Bulls have talent. Just no direction or leadership. Passing on Queen was a big mistake imo.
Queen would have been my #1 choice and I pushed for it. However the FO is infatuated with Swing players and has drafted a bunch with zero success. The Bulls needed a big. So they drafted another thing they have plenty of. Just another example of stupidity as if we hadn’t seen enough already. When they trade Vuj( Or let his deal expire) whatever, Who is going to replace him? A- Nobody now. Queen would have, Should have been the answer.
Bulls have no one exciting. Giddy and White are close but I’d be open to trading everybody.
White can shoot and that’s all the NBA is now. Keep your shooter and add more shooters.
This front office just has no clue. They need to just start over, but as long as AK is in charge they will not be anything respectable. He is the FO equivalent of Jim Boylen.