The Utah Jazz are beginning a new chapter under recently hired President of Basketball Operations Austin Ainge. As they seek to make roster-building moves this offseason, there is one name they should have at the top of their list of targets: Coby White. The Chicago Bulls' guard has been steadily improving, and could benefit even more from a change of scenery.
Number 0 has spent his entire professional career in Chicago, and this past season was truly his breakout campaign. He averaged over 20 points per game for the first time in his NBA career, and began to really blossom as a playmaker and as a scorer.
What the Bulls are now realizing is that internal development of your young prospects can sometimes (often) lead to financial complications when it comes to extension talks. If that player has done enough, they could command a significant pay day, which ultimately puts the front office in a tough position. They want to reward their young guy for his hard work and the results he's achieved, but you can't put the team in a tough position by overpaying him either.
Coby White could find even more success as a top option on the Jazz
The Bulls are reportedly considering giving Josh Giddey a massive new deal this summer after his excellent first season in Chicago. Both White and Giddey thrive with the ball in their hands, and it doesn't feel likely that the Bulls would try to shell out a lot of money for both. In the end, it'll likely be one or the other.
Now, stay with me for this next part. But I believe Coby White could be the kind of player that's a true All-Star who's just waiting for the right situation. Just look at some other guys around the league who were in a similar situation like Jalen Brunson and Tyrese Haliburton. Both were quality players who reached a new level after getting a change of scenery. Is it that crazy to say White could be cut from the same cloth as them?
The Utah Jazz are reportedly not going to be unwilling to part ways with anyone on their roster outside of their fifth pick in the upcoming draft. They could easily create a trade package for Coby White and put him alongside some of their other young talent, where'd he'd be in even more of a position for his talent to shine.
It feels pretty obvious that even if White doesn't quite reach the level those other guys are at, he's still primed to take another leap very soon. If the Bulls are unable to keep him around, the Jazz should be the first team calling them up this summer.