Image: Kamil Krzaczynski/Imagn Images
The month of February has rapidly approached, which means the NBA Trade Deadline is back and ready for action! In what seems to be a yearly staple, loads of trade rumors swarm the Bulls organization. Coby White and Nikola Vucevic have found themselves as the face of this year’s trade rumors, with the Bulls currently sitting at the 10th seed in the Eastern Conference and likely stuck in the play-in for their fourth consecutive year.
While reports state that Vucevic holds very little trade value, Coby White is a different story. Coby is just 27 years old and has averaged 19.6 points and 4.8 assists, while shooting 44.9% overall and 37.1% from behind the arc over the past three seasons. His ability to shoot from deep makes him a valuable asset for teams looking for outside shooting help.
With Coby and Josh Giddey having a similar playstyle, a trade makes sense given the absurd amount of guards on the Bulls roster. Coby is also approaching free agency for the first time in his career this offseason. The Chicago front office needs to get a deal done if they are planning to let him walk, and the deadline allows Coby to test the waters on a new team as a half-season rental.
Keeping Coby’s looming free agency in mind, here are three logical suitors that make sense for the Bulls to make a deal with.
Detroit Pistons
The Pistons stand out as a top destination for Coby White’s talents. Detroit needs a guard that can create his own offense to pair with Cade Cunningham. Coby excels at off-ball shooting and using breakaway speed to get past defenders, something the Pistons have struggled with despite ranking as the top seed in the East. The Pistons rank 21st in three-point percentage and 28th in three-pointers made per game. Adding Coby as he enters his prime would greatly improve the team’s outside shooting and offensive efficiency while maintaining the focus of the team’s young core.
A potential trade package needs to include the Pistons’ 2026 or 2027 first-round pick for the Bulls to consider. Players that make sense in a deal are Caris LeVert, Ron Holland, or even Jaden Ivey. LeVert has the least upside but provides Chicago with versatile on-ball scoring and adds another veteran presence to the locker room.
Holland catches the eye as the best fit for Chicago. He is just 20 years old and has lots of raw, untapped star potential. Holland excels at on-ball defense and is not afraid to play with physicality, as he averages 1.4 steals per game and displays a high motor. If the Pistons part ways with him to add Coby, Holland instantly becomes a key rotation player to a Chicago defense that currently allows 119.8 points per game.
Ivey is an interesting case, as his style of play is similar to Coby’s. After struggles on defense and inefficiency playing off-ball, J.B. Bickerstaff relocated Ivey to a bench role this season, leading to decreased minutes and a decline in per-game stats. Chicago could be a great place for Ivey to revitalize his career, as his shooting percentages have increased despite the minute restrictions. If Detroit pulls the trigger on this trade, there is room for Ivey to make large strides in his development.
Houston Rockets
In dire need of a primary point guard, the Rockets adding Coby White would greatly improve their chances at competing with the top dogs in the West. Houston has a shorter win-now window compared to the rest of the conference with Kevin Durant turning 38 years old in September. Coby’s scoring and athletic abilities would help the Rockets improve their floor spacing and take their offense to a new level.
Reed Sheppard and/or Tari Eason fit the Bulls’ rebuild timeline and should be essential trade targets for Chicago. The addition of Sheppard would cushion the blow of losing Coby’s scoring ability. In just his second season, Sheppard’s numbers have increased from 4.4 to 12.7 points and from 1.4 to three assists per game, as well as going from 33.8 to 39% shooting from behind the arc. His promising offensive efficiency makes for an intriguing fit with the Chicago young core.
Adding Eason helps Chicago greatly improve their defense, a unit that currently ranks bottom ten in the league in total defensive rating at 24th. Eason operates as an elite defender under Ime Udoka’s regime, as he disrupts passing lanes with impressive anticipation. Additionally, his 0.6 steals per game exceed the average for the forward position, demonstrating his arm length and quick hands.
Houston offers a plethora of first-round pick options, as they own the rights to three firsts in 2027 in addition to all of their own picks. A combination of Sheppard or Eason and two firsts makes an enticing trade package for Chicago.
Minnesota Timberwolves
Minnesota is another Western Conference team searching for a point guard. Reports have stated that the Timberwolves are lusting over Coby White and have sent several offers to Chicago. An insider report revealed that the Wolves offered veteran Mike Conley and Terrence Shannon Jr. with multiple second-round picks attached for Coby. This is a solid starting offer, but second year point guard Rob Dillingham and a first for 2026 or 2028 need to be added to consider a deal.
Dillingham has barely played in Minnesota, averaging just 10.5 and 9.3 minutes per game in two years. On a young, less win-now core like Chicago, there is much more room for Dillingham to grow and develop his game. His ability to create his own three-point shot has impressed in limited opportunity, shooting 36.4% from deep. Learning from Bulls’ guards Tre Jones and Ayo Dosunmu could help the former lottery pick live up to his full potential.
Shannon is another intriguing Minnesota guard in his sophomore season. He shoots an impressive 40.5% from three in just 12.8 minutes per game. With Shannon’s burst and athleticism, Billy Donovan gets a hometown hero in Shannon to help fill Coby’s offensive void. Both guys play with a similar breakaway speed to get past defenders and efficiently shoot the deep ball.
What trade package would you take for Coby White? Let me know in the comments.
