The Bulls made waves with a flurry of moves ahead of the trade deadline, and the biggest tremor might not be who they brought in-but who’s now on the outside looking in.
Chicago’s acquisition of Jaden Ivey in a three-team deal that also landed veteran point guard Mike Conley has reshaped the backcourt in a big way. Kevin Huerter and Dario Šarić were shipped to Detroit in the process, while the Pistons also picked up a 2026 protected first-round pick swap from Minnesota. The Timberwolves, for their part, gained some cap flexibility as they continue their pursuit of Giannis Antetokounmpo.
But the Bulls weren’t done. Not long after the Ivey trade, they flipped Nikola Vučević to Boston in exchange for Anfernee Simons-adding yet another guard to a suddenly crowded rotation.
And that’s where things get interesting for Coby White.
Coby White’s Role Shrinks as Bulls Load Up on Guards
Even before the Bulls brought in Simons, White’s future in Chicago was already looking shaky. Now? It's hard to ignore the writing on the wall-and it’s flashing in bright neon.
White has been a popular name in trade rumors for months, and with the deadline looming, the noise is only getting louder. He’s a dynamic scorer who can light it up from anywhere on the floor.
Over the past two seasons, he’s averaged 4.5 free throw attempts per game and knocked them down at an impressive 87.2% clip. That’s the kind of three-level scoring that teams covet-especially when it comes from a 25-year-old with room to grow.
But the other side of the ledger tells a different story. White has struggled defensively, and he’s on an expiring $12.9 million deal. He’s eligible for a four-year, $87 million extension, but league chatter suggests he’s eyeing a much bigger payday-closer to $25-30 million annually.
That’s a tough pill for the Bulls to swallow, especially after committing $100 million to Josh Giddey, another offense-first guard. Add in the emergence of Ayo Dosunmu-whom the front office reportedly prefers to keep over White-and the picture becomes clearer: Coby White is the odd man out.
What’s Next for White and the Bulls?
The question now is what kind of return Executive VP Artūras Karnišovas can get for White. With his contract situation and defensive limitations, he may not fetch a huge haul. League insiders suggest the Bulls might have to settle for a package centered around second-round picks.
Still, there’s interest. The Houston Rockets have been linked to White, and both the Timberwolves and Pistons-ironically involved in the original Ivey deal-are seen as logical fits.
Karnišovas has been more aggressive than usual in the lead-up to this year’s deadline, and all signs point to another move on the horizon. With Ivey locked in as part of the Bulls’ future and Simons now in the mix, White’s days in Chicago appear numbered.
The Bulls made a bold move to reshape their backcourt. Unfortunately for Coby White, it may have pushed him right out the door.