Over the last two months, the Chicago Bulls have been one of the hottest teams in the Eastern Conference. Billy Donovan’s young squad has found a rhythm, as Coby White and Josh Giddey have both taken their games to a new level.
Unfortunately for the Bulls, Giddey is heading into restricted free agency. He’s reportedly seeking in the region of $30 million per year on his next deal.
White will be entering the final year of his contract next season.
Currently, Giddey and White look poised to become the Bulls’ backcourt of the future. White has proven himself as a high-level scorer at the NBA level, having shone for the past two seasons. Giddey is among the best playmakers, rebounders and overall floor generals in the NBA.
“Do the Bulls have a tangible new core?” Marc Stein wrote in a March 31 edition of his SteinLine Newsletter. “Or maybe, at the very least, concepts of a core? Coby White generated significant interest from rival teams before the Feb. 6 trade deadline. Chicago swatted away all that interest and suddenly has a backcourt pairing of White and Josh Giddey that is thriving.”
It’s fair to argue that it’s too soon to fully commit to a duo of White and Giddey. Neither has been tested during the postseason. Furthermore, beating teams when you’ve got very little to play for is one thing; doing it when competing for championships is another.
Still, Giddey and White are young enough to keep improving. They’re making the most of the chances being afforded to them. Furthermore, they know Donovan’s system, and they understand what the Bulls are trying to build.
Chicago’s front office must decide whether both Giddey and White are worth the inevitable investment it will take to keep the duo around. If it has to choose one, Giddey will likely be the winner. His upside as an all-around talent is far higher. However, White has shone in multiple roles over the years, and his versatility cannot be ignored.
The Bulls are yet to enter a full-scale rebuild. Committing to both Giddey and White long-term could be a way for the franchise to avoid completely bottoming out. How both play during the play-in tournament could have an impact on the team’s decision-making process.
Nevertheless, if the Bulls are smart, they’ll keep this young guard duo together, at least for the next few years.
