The summer will again be busy for the management of the Bulls after a season without the playoffs. We must prepare to evolve one more season without Lonzo Ball, still operated on the knee with a cartilage graft, but also to manage three main “free agents”: Coby WhiteNikola Vucevic and Ayo Dosunmu.
Drafted in 7th position in 2018, White approaches this “free agency” with the status of protected “free agent”. The Bulls can thus keep control of his future via a “qualifying offer”, and they can therefore match any outside offer to keep him.
“Obviously it’s new for me to be a protected free agent, and I hope it will turn out for the best”, explained White during Saturday’s press briefing. “I love Chicago. I love my teammates. I like leaders. I would like to come back, but there are a lot of things that I don’t control. It’s a business in the end and I understand that choices have to be fresh. If I’m back, so much the better. But if I’m not, you know, you have to deal with it.
Clearly, White is not the priority of the summer in Chicago even if he has evolved his game, and he raises his head more and creates a little more. The concern is that he is a “combo guard”, not creative enough to play 1, and too small to defend on positions 2 and 3 in the current NBA. He looks doomed to be a wildcard behind Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan, but a starting spot could be a priority this summer if he receives offers.
At 23, Coby White feels ready to lead the game
“I think it will be in the discussions… It is obviously my objective. The subject will be clearly addressed and then we will advise. But it remains a goal, it has not changed. assures White.
On the side of its leaders, Arturas Karnisovas in the lead, nothing is promised, but its progress is underlined. “Coby has improved in all aspects of his game. I think he’s a good example of the player developing and progressing, from decision-making to defense to 3-point shooting. Especially in the second half of the season he was very good for us and played a key role in many wins. So he really improved. »
Will this be enough to apply for a starting spot? “I think I can,” White replies. “I think I’m more capable of it than two years ago because I’ve evolved a lot. There is more maturity in my game. I continue to work on my leadership, creation, and all aspects of a point guard’s game, while remaining myself at the same time. »
| Coby White | Percentage | Bounces | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Crew | GM | Minimum | Shots | 3 points | LF | Off | Def | Early | pd | party | Int | bp | CT | Points |
| 2019-20 | CHI | 65 | 26 | 39.4 | 35.4 | 79.1 | 0.4 | 3.1 | 3.5 | 2.7 | 1.8 | 0.8 | 1.7 | 0.1 | 13.2 |
| 2020-21 | CHI | 69 | 31 | 41.6 | 35.9 | 90.1 | 0.4 | 3.7 | 4.1 | 4.8 | 2.6 | 0.6 | 2.3 | 0.2 | 15.1 |
| 2021-22 | CHI | 61 | 28 | 43.3 | 38.5 | 85.7 | 0.3 | 2.7 | 3.0 | 2.9 | 2.3 | 0.5 | 1.2 | 0.2 | 12.7 |
| 2022-23 | CHI | 74 | 23 | 44.3 | 37.2 | 87.1 | 0.2 | 2.7 | 2.9 | 2.8 | 1.7 | 0.7 | 1.0 | 0.1 | 9.7 |
| Total | 269 | 27 | 41.9 | 36.7 | 85.4 | 0.3 | 3.0 | 3.4 | 3.3 | 2.1 | 0.6 | 1.5 | 0.1 | 12.6 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Shots made / Shots attempted; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def= defensive rebound; Tot = Total bounces; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost bullets; Ct: Counters; Points = Points.
