This former North Carolina Tar Heels star is watching his trade value skyrocket before the NBA trade deadline.
Former North Carolina Tar Heels star Coby White probably doesn't have much more time with the Chicago Bulls. He is in the final year of his contract, and the Bulls don't seem to have much interest in re-signing him.
Ergo, White seems likely to be moved by the NBA trade deadline, and while a rough stretch to start the 2025-26 campaign (due much in part to a calf injury) caused his trade value to decrease, his stock seems to be skyrocketing at the right time.
Now finally healthy, White is enjoying an impressive month of January, averaging 16.8 points, 4.5 rebounds and 4.3 assists over 29.7 minutes per game on 50.0/43.2/72.7 shooting splits. He has gone 13 for his last 21 from three-point range, and he finally appears to be finding his groove.
On the season overall, the North Carolina product is registering 18.5 points and 4.6 assists across 28.5 minutes a night while shooting 45.9 percent from the floor, 35.5 percent from three-point range and 78.9 percent from the free-throw line.
Are those numbers tremendous? No, but White is at least starting to look more like himself, and that could absolutely entice a contending team to move a decent asset for him before Feb. 5.
Chicago Bulls guard Coby White. Credit: Matt Marton-Imagn Images.White spent one season with the Tar Heels in 2018-19, posting 16.1 points and 4.1 assists per game on 42.3/35.3/80.0 splits. He was then selected by Chicago with the seventh overall pick of the 2019 NBA Draft.
The 25-year-old took some time to find his footing in the pros. He bounced back and forth between the starting lineup and the bench over his first four years before finally becoming a full-time starter in 2023-24.
That was when White broke out, logging 19.1 points per game. He then tallied 20.4 points a night while recording a true-shooting percentage of 60.1 percent last season, which dramatically increased his value.
White is expected to land around $25-30 million annually on his next contract, and the rebuilding Bulls don't seem eager to give that to him. As a result, the Goldsboro, N.C. native could be on the move in the coming weeks, and thanks to his recent surge, he is now a more desirable trade target.
We'll see if White ends up getting re-routed elsewhere.
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