Bulls urged to trade Coby White to Western Conference contender originally appeared on The Sporting News
Following an offseason highlighted by Josh Giddey’s four-year, $100 million contract, the Chicago Bulls may be looking to make some noise on the trade market this season.
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The Bulls remain in a rebuild after falling in the Play-In Tournament for a third straight season, and their outlook hasn’t improved much heading into the 2025-26 campaign. Giddey, Matas Buzelis, Nikola Vucevic, Ayo Dosunmu and Coby White are projected to start on Opening Night, but Chicago may not be done making moves.
Vucevic, Dosunmu and White are all on expiring deals and could emerge as trade candidates ahead of February’s deadline. White, in particular, has reportedly informed the team that he plans to test free agency next offseason.
MORE: Bulls urged to target elite rim-protector Walker Kessler by NBA writer
NBA writer advises Bulls to trade Coby White to Rockets
With the Bulls at risk of losing White for nothing, a trade with a club desperate for backcourt help — the Houston Rockets — could make sense. Fred VanVleet is in jeopardy of missing the entire season after tearing his ACL in late September, leaving the team potentially in need of a boost at point guard.
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Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times suggested the Bulls have an important phone call to make, noting it probably should have been made days ago. Cowley proposed a trade that would help the Rockets fill the void left by VanVleet’s injury while also advancing Chicago’s rebuild.
“White for [Reed] Sheppard and disgruntled forward Tari Eason is a win-win for both teams,” he wrote.
The Rockets, now featuring 15-time All-Star Kevin Durant, are positioned to contend for a championship. However, the aging superstar is on an expiring contract and will need an extension. Eason is also entering the final year of his deal and will enter restricted free agency next offseason if an extension isn’t reached. Meanwhile, Sheppard has yet to prove he can make a significant impact at the NBA level, so the Rockets could flip him rather than giving him a larger role in VanVleet’s absence.
For the Bulls, acquiring Sheppard would be a major win for their rebuild, and they would also have the cap space to retain Eason. With Chicago in danger of losing White, trading him to the Rockets is a viable option.
