Bulls guards Coby White, Ayo Dosunmu, and Tre Jones have all drawn interest from potential trade partners leading up to next Thursday’s deadline, according to Jake Fischer of The Stein Line (Substack link). However, one of those players appears more likely to be dealt than the others.
Fischer identifies White as the Bulls guard who is the best bet to be on the move in the next eight days, while Joe Cowley of The Chicago Sun-Times agrees that White is the player the team is discussing most frequently. Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints confirms that there are indications Chicago would prefer to keep and extend Dosunmu rather than White.
As Fischer outlines, both White and Dosunmu will be eligible for unrestricted free agency this summer, but White – who previously passed on negotiating an extension that would’ve maxed out at about $87MM over four years – is expected to be seeking the larger payday of the two.
While the Bulls – with a relatively clean cap sheet and White’s Bird rights in hand – could accommodate a deal that exceeds $87MM over four years, it’s getting more difficult to envision them going too high for White after signing Josh Giddey to a four-year, $100MM contract last summer, Fischer writes. As Fischer explains, Dosunmu has proven capable of being a more complementary backcourt piece alongside Giddey, whereas White is at his best when he has the ball in his hands more frequently.
That makes Dosunmu a better fit going forward, and it helps that he’s a Chicago native, which the franchise has historically valued. Fischer also hears from sources that Dosunmu has “found good alignment” with the Bulls’ coaching staff.
As for which teams are in the mix for White, Fischer says the Timberwolves continue to be mentioned as a suitor. The Wolves are in need of a backcourt upgrade and their head of basketball operations, Tim Connelly, worked with Bulls executive VP of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas in Denver.
However, Minnesota would have some reservations about giving up much of value for White if there’s a good chance he might just be a rest-of-season rental, Fischer writes. With over $194MM in guaranteed money on their books for next season, the Wolves aren’t currently in a great position to sign White to a lucrative new contract in the offseason.
Fischer also hears that the Wolves aren’t necessarily eager to move on from respected veteran point guard Mike Conley, despite the fact that his expiring $10.8MM looks like an obvious salary-matching piece in a move for a player like White ($12.9MM). Minnesota appears more willing to deal 2024 lottery pick Rob Dillingham, Fischer adds.
Besides Minnesota, the Rockets are also in the mix for White, according to both Cowley and Siegel. Cowley suggests players like Reed Sheppard and Tari Eason have been “floated in some capacity.”
It certainly makes sense that Chicago would inquire on those youngsters, but I’m skeptical Houston would be willing to include either one in an offer for White, given his contract situation. Sheppard has emerged as a quality rotation player in his second NBA season, while one recent report suggested Eason is considered off limits in trade talks.
Siegel identifies the Clippers as another team with interest in White, though both he and Cowley suggest there are more teams beyond those three in play for the Bulls guard.