As the NBA trade deadline draws closer, the Chicago Bulls find themselves at a familiar - and critical - crossroads. The team is once again caught between trying to compete with a flawed roster and hitting the reset button. And at the heart of this decision is Coby White, who’s having the kind of breakout year that turns heads across the league.
White is putting together the best season of his career, averaging 21.2 points and 5.2 assists per game - and that’s after missing the first 11 games of the season. He’s shooting 44 percent from the field, though his 3-point percentage has dipped to 28.6.
Still, the production is real, and the confidence is even more noticeable. He’s not just filling a role anymore - he’s leading.
But the Bulls are just 5-6 in games he’s played since returning, which tells the larger story: strong individual performances, but not enough to shift the team’s trajectory.
That’s where things get tricky for Chicago. White is on an expiring contract, and the Bulls have seven of those in total.
That gives the front office a rare kind of flexibility - but it also puts them on the clock. Letting productive players walk for nothing would be a painful repeat of past missteps.
If the Bulls are serious about reshaping this roster, now is the time to act.
There’s reported interest from teams like the Minnesota Timberwolves, and that opens up some intriguing possibilities. If Chicago wants to prioritize youth and upside, players like Terrence Shannon Jr. or Rob Dillingham could be the kind of prospects worth targeting.
But if the Bulls are looking for draft capital to build more slowly, that’s a different path entirely. Either way, White’s value may never be higher than it is right now - and that’s the kind of leverage a smart front office doesn’t waste.
White isn’t the only Bull drawing attention. Ayo Dosunmu is also emerging as a name to watch.
He’s averaging 14.8 points per game with incredibly efficient shooting splits: 52 percent from the field, 46.6 percent from deep, and 84.2 percent from the line. He’s defending multiple positions, playing with poise, and giving teams exactly what they want in a modern 3-and-D guard.
Like White, he’s on an expiring deal - and that makes him even more appealing to contenders looking to add depth without long-term commitments.
Then there’s Nikola Vucevic. The Bulls explored trading him last season but never pulled the trigger.
With the season trending downward again, there’s a real chance they revisit those conversations. The difference this time?
Timing. Last year, Chicago waited too long with Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan - and their trade value took a hit because of it.
The Bulls can’t afford to make the same mistake again.
This deadline isn’t just about moving pieces - it’s about choosing a direction. The Bulls have spent the last few seasons stuck in the middle: not bad enough to rebuild, not good enough to contend.
That’s the NBA’s no-man’s-land. Now, with multiple expiring contracts, valuable trade chips, and a chance to reshape the roster, the front office has a real opportunity to break that cycle.
But that window won’t stay open for long.