In the final few weeks before the start of a new NBA season, there is often a flurry of extensions. But based on a recent report, one will not be forthcoming for Chicago Bulls guard, Coby White.
Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times today reports that White and his camp have declined the opportunity to sign an extension with the only NBA team he has ever known. Citing their expenditure already elsewhere in the guard rotation, Cowley further mentions that the messaging from White’s people has been consistent, saying they have declined these extension overtures “several times”.
White is in the final year of his current contract, informed the team several times that he would not be taking an extension until he hits free agency next summer, and is part of a crowded guard room.
The Bulls extended Josh Giddey for four years, $100-million several weeks ago, re-signed Tre Jones, still have Ayo Dosunmu, and aren’t sure what Dalen Terry is exactly. Factor in Kevin Huerter in the final year of his contract, and plenty of guards to go around.
Bulls Seek Security And Value Consolidation
White is eligible for an extension on his contract, as the three-year, $36 million deal he signed in the summer of July 2023 is coming to an end. Veteran contracts (i.e. anything that is not a rookie scale contract) that are three years in length are eligible to be extended from after the second anniversary of the signing date, right up until the day of their expiration. So White has been able to sign an extension for nearly three months, and will be able to do so for nine more.
If White is not interested in doing so, though, it is because the money will not be enough. Despite the most recent NBA CBA liberalizing extension rules, it is still only possible for the first season’s salary in an extension to go up to 140% of the salary of the final year of the contract being extended. With White due to earn $12,888,889 in 2025-16, this would mean a starting salary in an extension of $18,044,445. And he wants more.
Cowley goes on to construct a trade idea involving sending White to the Houston Rockets as a replacement for the injured Fred VanVleet, receiving Reed Sheppard and Tari Eason in return. But if the Bulls face a real threat of White leaving via free agency – or at least being disgruntled/determined enough to try – then it would be difficult to see how he could yield as much value on the market as his play would otherwise deserve, when the recipient team would have no team control either.
Coby White, Improved Player
Amid a fairly turgid campaign for the Bulls overall, White was a bright spot in 2024-25. He cracked the 20 points per game barrier for the first time, posting 20.4 points per night to go along with 4.5 assists and 3.7 rebounds per game, consolidating his breakout season of 2023-24 and playing better man-to-man defense.
White is a distinctly better player now than he was when he signed his previous contract, and to sign an extension to it without hitting the open market would be to knowingly underpay himself. It makes plenty of sense that he would not do so. Even in light of seeing up close how long and tiresome the Bulls’ negotiations with restricted free agent and fellow guard Josh Giddey were this summer – ones that eventually culminated in a new four year, $100 million deal – White has an opportunity to potentially sign a much bigger contract by taking the free agency risk. (This includes also re-signing with the Bulls for more money, or to whichever team they trade him to.)
It would however be to the Bulls‘ benefit if he passed up that risk in favor of immediate security. The Bulls are far from the finished product and have a lopsided roster with a limited ceiling, with overspends in some places and diminishing returns in others. But White has not been the problem – and extended him would be part of the solution. Alas.
Coby White Refuses Extension With the Bulls