At the beginning of the summer, insiders believed the Chicago Bulls would move one of their key guards by the start of this season.
So far, that has not proven to be the case, although conversations are fraught with one of them.
Restricted free agent Bulls point guard Josh Giddey continues to apparently be at odds with Chicago management about his annual worth. The 6-foot-8 pro, still just 22, is reportedly pining for a deal that would pay him around $30 million a season, while the Bulls would rather give him closer to $20 million per.
Two Bulls Enter, One Leaves?
According to Hardwood Paroxysm way back in June, two Eastern Conference personnel sources expected Chicago to part ways with either Giddey or starting shooting guard Coby White.
The 6-foot-5 North Carolina product, 25, is on an expiring $12.9 million contract. Although he’s eligible for a contract extension, because such a deal would only pay him 140 percent of his current agreement, he’d likely fetch more in free agency next summer — so that appears to be his plan.
People around the league believe that either Coby White or Josh Giddey will be on a new team next season, per @HPbasketball
“This is outside speculative, but two different East personnel figures believe that the Bulls are unlikely to retain both Josh Giddey and Coby White. If… pic.twitter.com/B9hn3DHl7S
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) June 3, 2025
“This is outside speculative, but two different East personnel figures believe that the Bulls are unlikely to retain both Josh Giddey and Coby White,” Hardwood Paroxysm writes. “If Giddey gets locked in, White could be moved. I’m skeptical of that idea because that sounds like a radical concept for the Bulls and that doesn’t sound like them. Saving money sounds like them, but not like this.”
“Saving money” might as well be Bulls owner Jerry Reinsdorf’s middle name. Armed with the biggest arena in the league by capacity size, plus a loyal fanbase, Reinsdorf has appeared uniquely unmotivated to build a winning team on the hardwood.
MORE NEWS: Josh Giddey gets long-term contract offer from Bulls
So would Reinsdorf or his disengaged team president Arturas Karnisovas actually be compelled to ditch White, Chicago’s best player, before this season?
In 74 healthy games for the 39-43 Bulls last season, White averaged 20.4 points on .453/.370/.902 shooting splits, 4.5 assists, 3.7 rebounds and 0.9 steals a night. He’s a crafty downhill scorer who has proven himself equally adept on and off the ball.
It seems unlikely that Chicago would be that proactive, although it’s certainly possible ownership will cheap out when it’s White who’s asking for $30 million a year.
MORE NEWS: 2026 Bulls free agent confident in impact ‘beyond the numbers’
