The Minnesota Timberwolves and Houston Rockets are interested in trading for Chicago Bulls guard Coby White, according to NBA reporter Joe Cowley of The Chicago Sun-Times.
White becomes an unrestricted free agent after this season. He doesn’t have a no-trade clause in his contract.
“The Bulls front office remained active in trade talks on Tuesday, with Coby White still the piece most frequently discussed, according to a source,” Cowley wrote. “Minnesota and Houston are still in the mix, but it’s not just a two-team race with the Feb. 5 trade deadline approaching quickly.
“While the source stressed that nothing was imminent, it vibed with Sun-Times reports since early December that executive vice president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas is looking to conduct business with the roster. The ongoing issue is the tightrope he is trying to walk, moving a player like White – who does have an expiring contract – for young talent that coincides with the timeline the Bulls feel Josh Giddey and Matas Buzelis occupy.”
White is averaging 19.0 points, 3.5 rebounds and 4.7 assists per game this season. He’s shooting 45.7% from the field, 37.0% from beyond the arc and 80.0% from the free-throw line.
The Rockets and Timberwolves are title contenders, while the Bulls are a play-in team. White, 25, is better suited to play for a playoff team at this stage of his career.
Houston and Minnesota have been looking for point guards, which is why they are targeting White, who is making $12.9 million this season.
A UNC product, White was the seventh overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft. He holds career averages of 15.4 points, 3.6 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game.
The 2026 NBA trade deadline is February 5 at 3 p.m. ET.