The Chicago Bulls are shaking things up at the guard position, dealing Coby White and Mike Conley to the Charlotte Hornets in exchange for Collin Sexton, Ousmane Dieng, and three second-round picks, according to league sources.
Let’s start with the headline name here: Coby White. He’s been a steady presence in Chicago for seven seasons, and this year, he’s been playing some of the best basketball of his career.
Averaging 18.6 points, 4.7 assists, and 3.7 rebounds across 29 games (26 of those starts), White’s growth as a playmaker and scorer has been one of the few bright spots in an otherwise inconsistent Bulls campaign. But with free agency looming this summer and his current $12.9 million salary due for a significant bump, the Bulls decided to move now rather than risk losing him for nothing.
Mike Conley’s time in Chicago was more of a layover than a stay. The veteran point guard was just acquired Tuesday in a three-team deal involving the Timberwolves and Pistons, and now he's on the move again. That quick flip suggests Conley was never part of the Bulls' long-term plans, but rather a piece used to facilitate broader roster reshaping.
On the other side of the deal, Charlotte picks up a proven scorer in White and a steady veteran in Conley-two players who can help stabilize a young Hornets backcourt that’s been searching for consistency. Whether they’re long-term fits or short-term rentals remains to be seen, but the Hornets are clearly looking to inject experience and scoring into their rotation.
Coming to Chicago is Collin Sexton, a high-energy guard with a scorer’s mentality and the ability to heat up in a hurry. This season, he’s averaging 14.2 points and 3.7 assists per game while shooting an efficient 48.8% from the field, 39.3% from deep, and 87.7% at the free-throw line. He’s played in 42 games for the Hornets this season, starting 12 of them after arriving in a June trade from the Jazz in exchange for Jusuf Nurkic.
Like White, Sexton is in the final year of his contract, though he’s set to earn just under $19 million in 2025-26. That gives the Bulls some flexibility-either they re-sign him if the fit works or they let his deal expire and free up cap space.
Also heading to Chicago is Ousmane Dieng, a young forward with intriguing upside. This marks his second trade of the day-Charlotte had just acquired him and a second-round pick from Oklahoma City earlier in the day in exchange for Mason Plumlee. Dieng is still developing, but his size, length, and raw talent make him an interesting project for the Bulls' player development staff.
And let’s not overlook the draft capital. Chicago is picking up three second-round picks in the deal, which could provide future trade chips or developmental prospects. In a league where second-rounders are increasingly valuable for cap flexibility and roster depth, that’s not an insignificant addition.
All told, this is a move that signals a retooling mindset in Chicago. They’re not blowing it up, but they’re clearly reshaping the roster with an eye toward flexibility-both financially and on the court.
Sexton brings scoring punch, Dieng brings potential, and the picks bring options. For Charlotte, it’s a bet on experience and scoring helping to accelerate their rebuild.
Both teams are taking calculated swings here. Now it’s just a matter of seeing who connects.