According to NBA insider Marc Stein of The Stein Line, the Chicago Bulls are open to trading point guard Coby White.
A UNC product, White becomes an unrestricted free agent after this season.
“Doesn’t mean they’ll actually move him before the Feb. 5 trade deadline, but the Chicago Bulls have left the impression with rival teams inquiring about Coby White that they are more open to trading White than they’ve ever been,” Stein wrote.
White is making $12.9 million this season in the final year of his contract. He signed a three-year, $36 million deal with the Bulls in 2023.
According to NBA insider Sam Amick of The Athletic, the Minnesota Timberwolves have legitimate interest in White.
However, White’s looming free agency could prevent a trade.
“A Minnesota Timberwolves source confirmed that there is legitimate interest in Coby White, but the 25-year-old’s looming free agency appears to be a significant hindrance to a possible trade,” Amick wrote. “He’s making $12.8 million in the final year of his deal and is widely expected to seek a major raise this summer. But the fear of that unknown, it seems, means this is the kind of ‘rental’ situation that drops the price point precipitously and creates a negotiating gap between the two sides.”
White is averaging 21.2 points, 3.6 rebounds and 5.2 assists per game this season while shooting 44.0% from the field, 28.6% from beyond the arc and 81.8% from the free-throw line.
White turns 26 in February. He holds career averages of 15.3 points, 3.6 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game. The North Carolina native doesn’t have a no-trade clause in his contract.
Chicago hasn’t made the playoffs since 2022. The team is stuck in the worst place to be in sports: the middle.
The Bulls are 12-15. They are in 10th place in the Eastern Conference standings.