Why Coby White Could Be the Spark the Trail Blazers Need
The Portland Trail Blazers are in the thick of a rebuild, but that doesn’t mean they should sit on their hands. There’s an opportunity brewing that hasn’t gotten much attention - and it involves a player quietly putting together one of the best stretches of his young career. Coby White, the Chicago Bulls guard, might just be the offensive engine Portland needs to accelerate their development and compete in a loaded Western Conference.
Let’s break it down.
Coby White: A Rising Offensive Force
White has returned to the Bulls’ lineup after missing time with a calf injury, and he’s wasted no time making his presence felt. In nine games this season, he’s averaging 21.7 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 5.0 assists over 29.2 minutes per night. The shooting numbers tell a mixed story - he’s hitting 43.0% from the field and just 26.9% from three on 7.4 attempts per game - but don’t let the early-season slump from deep fool you.
This is a guy who’s shot 37% or better from beyond the arc in each of the last three seasons. The touch is there.
The volume is there. The confidence is there.
And most importantly, the upside is real.
Why Portland Makes Sense
Portland has a young core that’s starting to take shape. Deni Avdija brings versatility.
Shaedon Sharpe has explosive scoring potential. Toumani Camara is carving out a role as a gritty, switchable forward.
But what they’re missing is a consistent offensive creator - someone who can bend defenses, hit tough shots, and take pressure off the rest of the group. That’s where White fits in.
At just 25 years old, White still aligns with the Blazers’ timeline. He’s young enough to grow with the roster, but experienced enough to contribute right away.
And stylistically, he checks a lot of boxes. He can play on or off the ball, push the pace, and create his own shot - all things Portland desperately needs.
Pairing him with Sharpe in the backcourt would give Portland a dynamic scoring duo, with Avdija and Camara filling in the gaps on the wing. And when Jrue Holiday returns to the lineup, the Blazers could roll out a starting five of White, Holiday, Sharpe, Avdija, and Donovan Clingan - a lineup that balances youth, defense, and shot creation.
What It Might Take
Let’s be real: a player like Coby White isn’t going to come cheap. Portland would likely need to send out Matisse Thybulle for salary-matching purposes, and that’s just the beginning. Chicago would almost certainly ask for draft capital and maybe even a young piece with upside.
But that’s the cost of doing business in today’s NBA. And if Portland believes White can be a foundational piece - not just a short-term boost - it’s a price worth considering.
The Bigger Picture
In a Western Conference where nearly every team is jockeying for position, adding a player like White could be the difference between another lottery-bound season and a legitimate push toward the Play-In - or more. He brings scoring, spacing, and a level of shot creation that Portland simply doesn’t have enough of right now.
More importantly, he fits the identity the Blazers are trying to build: young, athletic, and versatile, with the potential to grow into something bigger than the sum of its parts.
If Portland is serious about accelerating this rebuild, Coby White should be on their radar - and maybe, just maybe, on their roster before long.