MINNEAPOLIS — For three Chicago Bulls guards, Thursday’s upset win over the Minnesota Timberwolves could have doubled as a tryout.
As the Feb. 5 trade deadline nears, the Timberwolves have continued to express interest in three Bulls guards: Coby White, Ayo Dosunmu and Tre Jones. All three logged strong performances in Minnesota, a fact that likely won’t sway the trade market one way or another — but it certainly didn’t hurt their cases, either.
White and Dosunmu are preparing for their debuts on the unrestricted free agent market this summer, making them two of the hottest Bulls commodities on the trade market. Jones is on a three-year deal rather than an expiring contract, but the guard’s appeal is driven by his affordability and adaptability as a rotation player who can start in a pinch.
Minnesota doesn’t have much draft stock to deal, which means the Bulls would be looking to load up on some of the young guards who have fallen out of the Timberwolves rotation. The Timberwolves, for their part, need cost-efficient backup in the backcourt to help out Anthony Edwards as he once again attempts to slay the goliaths of the Western Conference in the postseason.
Here’s what to know about the trade prospects for this guard trio.
Coby White
Bulls’ Coby White shoots a three-point basket that’s defended by the Timberwolves’ Donte DiVincenzo during the first half at Target Center on Jan. 22, 2026. (Photo by Tyler Clouse/Getty Images)
Even just a few weeks ago, White’s battle readiness might have drawn some concern after he missed 21 games with a pair of calf injuries. The fact that this injury is hampering White in both legs — and severely detracting from his 3-point percentage, which has dropped to 35.2% — could be a cooling factor for deadline teams looking for short-term solutions for the 2026 postseason.
But White’s recent return to form should be enough to convince teams otherwise. The guard has averaged 19.2 points in 30.8 minutes over the last five-game stretch. His long-range shooting improved to 45.2% in that span. And he hasn’t missed more than two games in a row since early December, which seems to signal a return to health.
The main barrier here is Minnesota’s cap space. Although this would be a bargain rental for a former cornerstone of the Bulls offense, White’s remaining $12.9 million salary would still create a sizable challenge for Minnesota to match in a trade. It would require the Bulls to acquire multiple Minnesota contracts to make the math work.
Ayo Dosunmu
Although he’s still an anchor of the secondary rotation, this has been a standout performance in a contract year from Dosunmu, who is averaging 14.4 points and 3.6 assists in only 26 minutes per game. Dosunmu is also shooting the ball at a 45.9% clip from behind the 3-point arc, the fourth-best in the entire NBA.
Trading Dosunmu might be the most efficient piece of business for these two teams to execute. His expiring money is almost half of White’s, which makes him an easier piece for Minnesota to acquire without an outright salary dump. The guard is accustomed to maximizing his minutes off the bench, which would make for a smoother transition to a supporting role on the Timberwolves.
Dosunmu also offers a more robust defensive presence as a true two-way guard — a tantalizing option for the Timberwolves, who are trying to improve on their current status as the seventh-best defensive-rated team in the West.
Tre Jones
Bulls guard Tre Jones works toward the basket as the Timberwolves’ Jaylen Clark defends during the first half on Jan. 22, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
It’s not unlikely that the Bulls end up valuing Dosunmu more than the Timberwolves, which could end trade talks before they really begin. The Bulls front office is not set on parting with the guard and remains interested in potentially extending Dosunmu this summer.
That means the last option on the Bulls roster could end up being Jones, a backup point guard who has logged considerable minutes this season amid other players’ injuries. Jones is not the preferred target in Minnesota, but he’s also much more than a consolation prize. He offers roughly the same cap hit as Dosunmu, but with more permanence, with two years left on his deal.
Jones would not boost scoring on his own for the Timberwolves — he averages 12.4 points per game, mostly on 2-pointers — but could still fuel an offense with his facilitation. The guard owns one of the best assist-to-turnover ratios in the NBA (4.27), a testament to his court vision and decision-making.
An added bonus for the Timberwolves — picking up a hometown guy with deep investment who is already invested in the Minnesota community.