After a red-hot start to the regular season, the Chicago Bulls have come crashing back down to earth. Billy Donovan’s team currently sits at 9-14 and is struggling to stay in the playoff race. Now the front office is considering making a surprising move involving one of their core players.
The Bulls Have One of Their Best Players on the Trading Block
The Chicago Bulls have lost seven straight games, including a few to Eastern Conference bottom-dwellers. This slump is especially disappointing considering the 6-1 record the franchise got off to, thanks to a highly efficient start from three-point range.
Now, all options are back on the table for this front office. The Bulls have frequently been in the Play-In over the past few seasons, but they haven’t made the playoffs since 2022. Many of the key contributors on this roster are young and still developing, but that hasn’t stopped the franchise from gauging trade interest in one of its best players.
In a recent newsletter, NBA insider Marc Stein clarified who that player is. “The Bulls, meanwhile, continue to field trade interest in guard Coby White,” Stein confirmed. And a recent report mentioned a title contender that is already showing interest in the 25-year-old’s services.
The Timberwolves have called the Bulls on Coby White, per @JCowleyHoops
“The source said that Minnesota is not looking to wait until February and the trade deadline to get a deal done, looking to fix the primary ball-handling situation that’s been an issue all season long for… pic.twitter.com/azitg9RvW0
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) December 11, 2025
Coby White’s Current Deal Expires After the Regular Season
Coby White is in the final year of his current three-year deal worth around $36 million. He is set to earn roughly $12.9 million in this season and will become an unrestricted free agent during the 2026 summer.
White has made it clear he does not plan to sign an extension before this season ends, which puts the Bulls in a bit of a bind regarding his future. The seventh-year guard is betting on himself and so far has played just seven games this season, averaging a career-high 22.1 points and 5.4 assists.
However, the Bulls are just 2-5 in those games, and with the ascension of Josh Giddey and White’s defensive struggles, the former No. 7 overall might not be the best fit on a roster that has plenty of intriguing talent. In particular, second-year player Matas Buzelis already looks like a future All-Star.
Overall, the Bulls are aggressively looking to build around Buzelis and Giddey as their two cornerstone players. That search, combined with White’s impending free agency, explains why the dynamic guard’s time in the Windy City might be coming to an end soon.
