DeMar DeRozan is gone. Zach LaVine is gone. Alex Caruso is gone. Lonzo Ball is gone. The Chicago Bulls have been slowly dismantling the core that briefly made their team look like a contender a few years ago. Arturas Karnisovas is under constant ridicule for how he's handled it. Even so, the process remains ongoing. Experts and insiders believe the teardown is not finished. Other players could find their way out of town soon enough. Nikola Vucevic is at the top of the list, but plenty of eyes are also on Coby White.
The former Bulls 1st round pick has developed into a quality NBA player. Last season was his best yet, as he averaged 20.4 points, 4.5 assists, and 3.7 rebounds while hitting 37% of his threes. He is due for another contract extension. The problem is this one will be more expensive. While Chicago would love to keep him, they're focused on locking up Josh Giddey long term. That deal is expected to cost around $30 million a year. That makes it unlikely White will stay in Chicago.
If you wanted proof of where things are headed, his recent Instagram post sends a clear signal.
Coby White deserves recognition.
He is the only 1st round pick in the past decade to develop into anything significant. Bobby Portis played his best seasons elsewhere. Outside of that, it's been one long track of mediocre or bad selections. The height of the misery came with Patrick Williams, whom the Bulls took over options like Tyrese Haliburton and Tyrese Maxey. Things could've been so different if they'd grabbed one of those two and placed them alongside Coby White. Maybe this era of Chicago basketball would've achieved more. Now, all people can do is wait for the end and hope the Bulls don't waste the opportunity to get something decent back for him. Given the recent trend, it would be wise not to get them too high.
