Chicago Bulls guard Coby White is preparing to target a major payday when he enters unrestricted free agency next summer.
According to NBA insider Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report, league chatter suggests White will pursue a contract exceeding $30 million per season, a figure that would place him among the top-paid guards in the league.
“The talk around the league has already been that Coby White is going to be seeking even north of the $30 million average annual value that Josh Giddey has been given,” Fischer reported, via HoopsHype.
White, 25, is in the final year of his three-year, $36 million contract. He is coming off a breakout campaign, where he averaged 20.4 points and 4.5 assists per game while playing in 79 contests. Despite his leap, the Bulls finished 39–43 and missed the playoffs after falling in the play-in tournament.
Chicago’s front office has been weighing the financial implications of White’s next deal. The franchise has limited flexibility under the league’s salary cap rules, which complicates their ability to offer an extension at the number White is expected to command.
Spotrac’s Keith Smith reported that one team executive acknowledged the challenge, saying the organization “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.”
White’s situation is shaping Chicago’s broader roster decisions. Fischer noted that his salary expectations have already factored into the Bulls’ approach with other players, including Josh Giddey.
The Bulls may soon face a tough choice, as fellow guard Ayo Dosunmu is also headed for unrestricted free agency next summer. Dosunmu, who averaged 12.3 points and 4.5 assists last season, is completing a three-year, $21 million contract.
