Chicago Bulls guard Coby White spoke about his future ahead of the NBA trade deadline, acknowledging that much of the decision is beyond his control. “A lot of it’s out of my control,” White told the Chicago Tribune. “Obviously there’s a lot of scenarios out there. And you’ve got to always look at it like — it’s good to be wanted, you know? But I don’t really know what’s going to happen. I don’t have any clue.”
White, 25, is in his seventh NBA season and is on an expiring three-year, $36 million contract. His role in Chicago has been complicated by the team’s evolving youth timeline, which is centered around younger players like Matas Buzelis and Ayo Dosunmu, who is also approaching unrestricted free agency.
“I’m getting older,” White said. “I’m about to be 26, so I’m not really that young in the league anymore in terms of being in the NBA. …It depends on what direction they go in. If they just go into the total rebuild and go really young, super young, and just try to build over the years — if they feel like that’s what’s best for the organization, that’s it.”
This season, White is averaging 19.0 points, 4.7 assists, and 3.5 rebounds per game while shooting 45.7% from the field and 37.0% from three. He has started 22 of 25 games, highlighting his role as a primary scorer despite the team’s balanced rotation that also features Josh Giddey, Nikola Vucevic, and Buzelis.
Chicago is currently 23-23, sitting ninth in the Eastern Conference, just behind Orlando and ahead of Atlanta. The Bulls face a critical stretch of games leading into the trade deadline, where roster moves could determine whether the team shifts toward a youth-focused rebuild or maintains a competitive core for the remainder of the 2025-26 season.
White’s situation mirrors broader questions about the Bulls’ long-term plans, particularly with Dosunmu also in line for free agency this summer. Team executives must weigh short-term competitiveness against a potential multi-year rebuilding approach, which could include trading veteran assets for draft picks or younger talent.
