The Chicago Bulls front office acknowledged significant challenges in keeping Coby White beyond his current contract, citing league rules and financial limitations.
According to Keith Smith of Spotrac, a team executive said: “The contract is what it is. We probably can’t extend him, because the rules don’t allow for us to pay him enough. But we want Coby to be a Bull for a long time. He knows how we feel about him.”
White, 25, is entering the final year of his three-year, $36 million deal after posting a career-high 20.4 points and 4.5 assists per game this past season. Despite his breakout year, the Bulls finished 39–43, fell to the 9th seed in the East, and were eliminated by the Miami Heat in the play-in tournament.
Both White and fellow guard Ayo Dosunmu will hit unrestricted free agency next summer, placing the organization in a difficult position. K.C. Johnson of The Chicago Lead reported that the Bulls are likely to explore trade options for one of the guards before the 2025 offseason to avoid losing them both without compensation.
Dosunmu, also 25, averaged 12.3 points and 4.5 assists across 46 games in the 2024–25 season. He is in the final year of a three-year, $21 million contract. Both players contributed heavily during Chicago’s late push into the play-in tournament.
Johnson emphasized that financial constraints may force the Bulls’ hand, stating that the front office faces tough decisions despite valuing both guards’ contributions to the team’s style of play.
The combination of White’s rising production, Dosunmu’s efficiency, and the team’s salary cap concerns have placed Chicago at a crossroads. While the organization remains vocal about keeping White, the inability to extend him under current rules makes trade discussions increasingly likely before the trade deadline.
