Coby White returns to Bulls on team-friendly deal |
One of the bigger questions facing the Chicago Bulls this offseason was what to do with Coby White. On paper, White is a valuable asset that can score both off the bench and as a starter. However, his biggest issue throughout his four NBA seasons has been consistency.
With his name being involved in trade talks the past few years, many thought the Bulls would move on from him to give him a fresh and new opportunity that he deserves. Well, perhaps the Bulls' front office had second thoughts, or maybe that new opportunity is in the starting lineup as White and the Bulls have reached a brand new deal. White was expected to get a multi-year deal on the open market, which he obtained with his new three-year contract, but the money side of it stands out. White will get paid $40 million across that three-year deal, making it a very team-friendly deal. He is coming off his most consistent season as a pro, and the hope is that his improved play will continue into this season. Unlike most players on this team, White is one of the few that can knock down a three-point shot, as he has shot 38% the past two seasons. For a team that has been searching for outside shooting for a while, this deal makes a ton of sense. White has proven to be an above-average long-range threat with an improving game. He showed notable progress as a ball-handler and defender in his fourth season with the Bulls, ultimately making re-signing him an easy decision. With the announcement that Lonzo Ball will miss another season and his Chicago Bulls career is all but over, White will now head into the 2023-24 campaign with a chance to reclaim the starting point guard spot. That would be huge for this team, as that area seemed to haunt them last season. With the Bulls in desperate need of a PG, moving White to that position makes a ton of sense, even if his decision-making isn't always the best. He is no Ball, but he is more athletically gifted than Ball and will give the Bulls a much-needed scoring and shooting boost from that position. However, there is still an option that White will continue to be the team's sixth man as that is where he is best suited. For that to happen, the Bulls will need to add a PG, but with Derrick Rose, Dennis Schroeder, and Fred VanVleet off the market, the options for Chicago are very slim at the moment. That is why you keep hearing about a Patrick Beverly reunion, as he will come much cheaper than other options and seemed to fit in nicely with the Bulls a season ago. The longer Ball is out, and the more likely White remains the team's starting PG moving forward. That could be an excellent thing for him and the entire team, as White could prove to be their answer as he continues to develop his game. That would help the Bulls in the long run as it is one less area for them to address. With most fans wanting the Bulls to rebuild and start over, the front office isn't quite ready to do that and seems willing to run it back one more time. Whether it works out or not, the Bulls will have White in Chicago for another three seasons. He’s exactly the kind of young asset the Bulls should continue to invest in, and the discount that he gave them made this a no-brainer decision for the entire organization.
