Former Bulls Guard Already Sparks Major Regret in Charlotte

Coby Whites early absence and lingering injury concerns are prompting tough questions about the Hornets high-stakes trade deadline gamble.

The Charlotte Hornets made a bold move at the trade deadline, bringing in Coby White from the Chicago Bulls in a deal that raised some eyebrows around the league. But less than two weeks later, the situation is already looking a bit murky - and not because of anything White has done on the court.

In fact, that's the issue: he hasn’t been on the court at all.

White, who was acquired on February 4, has yet to suit up for the Hornets due to a lingering calf injury that’s been bothering him since before the season tipped off. What’s more, that injury was serious enough to prompt a revision of the original trade. Charlotte initially sent Collin Sexton, Ousmane Dieng, and three second-round picks to Chicago, but the deal was later amended to include just two second-rounders - a clear sign that something changed once medical evaluations were completed.

Now, here’s where things get complicated.

White isn’t just a young guard with upside - he’s also on an expiring contract. At 25 years old, he’s set to hit free agency this summer, and the Hornets clearly made the move with an eye toward re-signing him. But with his calf still acting up and no clear timetable for his return, Charlotte’s front office is left in an awkward spot: How do you evaluate a player you can’t see play?

White’s performance this season before the trade was solid. He’s averaging 18.6 points and 4.7 assists per game, logging nearly 30 minutes a night while shooting 43.8% from the field, 34.6% from three, and 80.5% from the line. Those numbers tell the story of a guard who can score, create, and stretch the floor - all things the Hornets could use in a backcourt that’s still searching for long-term answers.

But the calf injury complicates everything. It’s not just a day-to-day issue.

It’s been nagging him all season, and with the All-Star break now here, the Hornets are hoping the extra rest will help. Still, soft tissue injuries - especially ones that persist for months - are tricky.

And when you’re talking about a calf, the potential risk to the Achilles becomes part of the conversation. That’s not something any team takes lightly, especially when evaluating a player’s long-term value.

From a trade value standpoint, Charlotte didn’t give up a massive haul. Sexton is a talented scorer but has struggled with consistency, and Dieng is still more of a project than a proven contributor.

The second-round picks could become useful assets, but they’re not franchise-altering on their own. So in that sense, the Hornets didn’t mortgage their future to land White.

But the real cost could come this summer.

If White doesn’t return to full health - or if he simply doesn’t return at all before the end of the season - Charlotte will be forced to make a decision based on limited data. Do they offer him a long-term deal based on what he’s done in Chicago? Or do they let him walk and chalk the trade up as a calculated risk that didn’t pan out?

There’s also the question of whether the Hornets would’ve made the trade in the first place had they known the full extent of White’s injury. That’s impossible to answer now, but it underscores the gamble Charlotte took by acquiring a player with a known health concern in a contract year.

For now, the Hornets will wait and hope the All-Star break gives White the time he needs to get right. But the clock is ticking - not just on the season, but on the franchise’s ability to evaluate whether White is part of their future or just a short-term experiment that never got off the ground.