Charlotte Hornets general manager Jeff Peterson is quietly putting together a roster that has the ability to make waves in the coming years, and the move to acquire Coby White is no small part in that future.
The Chicago Bulls traded White and veteran guard Mike Conley Jr. to Charlotte on Wednesday, a day before the NBA’s annual trade deadline, in exchange for Collin Sexton, Ousmane Dieng and three-second round picks. Going into the trade deadline, finding a guard that could back up all-star LaMelo Ball was crucial for Charlotte. Essentially turning big man Jusuf Nurkić and a trio of second-round picks into White isn’t just impressive — it’s miraculous.
White, a 2018 Greenfield School graduate and the state’s all-time leading high school basketball scorer, should be expected to fill Sexton’s backup guard role, though his age and ceiling make him a better fit than the former Alabama guard given the timeline of the Hornets’ developing young core. White is an elite-level scorer at the NBA level coming off a career year for the Bulls. Though he’s taken an ever-so-slight dip in efficiency this year, his 18.6 points per game through the first half of the 2025-2026 season are still lofting around career highs for the seven-year veteran.
The Hornets are replacing 27-year-old Sexton with 25-year-old White and the two, on paper, are very similar players. In 22.3 minutes per game this season with the Hornets, Sexton has averaged 14.2 points per game on near 50-40-90 shooting efficiency, but hasn’t had as large of a role in the offense as the numbers may suggest.
Sexton, who was drafted eighth overall by the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2018, has had an up-and-down career at the NBA level. Sexton’s offensive input peaks during his third year in the league, averaging 24.3 points per game as the centerpiece of the Cavs post-LeBron James era.
After playing out his rookie deal with the team that drafted him, Sexton signed a four-year deal as part of a sign-and-trade with the Utah Jazz that brought All-Star Donovan Mitchell to Cleveland. After three seasons in Utah, the Hornets acquired Sexton in a trade for Nurkić, a career backup center who, when starting, averages around a double-double per game.
Sexton’s on the final year of his contract, so by acquiring his contract, the Bulls have the flexibility to shed cap space this upcoming off season, while still retaining his high-dollar extension rights should the two parties be interested in a reunion.
White, who will also become an unrestricted free agent following this season, should be an attractive re-sign for Charlotte, who will retain his extension rights. In the short term, White becomes an offensive weapon to pair around the young core rotation of Ball, Brandon Miller, Kon Knueppel, Ryan Kalkbrenner, Miles Bridges and Moussa Diabate. In the long term, White can become a veteran presence to a young core with an average age of 23.8 years old. White’s leadership on and off the court should translate into even more success for Charlotte in the future.
The key word is time. Ball and White are already stars in their own right, but building chemistry is going to be crucial for the Hornets, who’ve turned nothing assets into something by acquiring White. Peterson, who was responsible for drafting Knueppel and Kalkbrenner, is showing that he can put the right pieces in place, but now it’s time for the team to develop on the court. If this core plays to their potential, they’ll be a contender in the east for years to come.
MORE ON WHITE
White was drafted No. 7 overall to the Bulls in 2019 following a one-and-done campaign at UNC Chapel Hill. As a Tar Heel, White was named to the All-Atlantic Coast Conference second team and to the ACC All-Freshman Team. Prior to his college career, White was a McDonald’s All-American, North Carolina Mr. Basketball and the 2018 Tom Ham Athlete of the Year as presented by The Wilson Times.