Coby's Next Contract

[kodo]

How is Nembhard being discussed as a poor defender? Dude was an absolute animal on D in the postseason. Some of the most intense and consistent perimeter D from a small player you will ever see.

When building the team last few years their backcourt defense was terrible, 28th and 26th. And Buchanan said so.

"That was obviously a weak spot for this team last year," general manager Chad Buchanan said. "We were a terrific offensive team, a historic offense and I think our coaches and our players know for us to take that next step (we have to be better on defense.)

He publically said they had to improve on D. What they didn't do was just get rid of all their current guards, they got a defensive big man and banked on improvement from their young guards. Nembhard made huge strides on defense, he wasn't drafted as a defender and that was scouted as a weakness instead.

And as good as Nembhard is now, he's still not as good as Caruso who we had and we still had a bad defense.
It's pretty clear the problem on the Bulls defense are the bigs, which have been PWill & Vucevic for most of the last few years.

[sco]

How is Nembhard being discussed as a poor defender? Dude was an absolute animal on D in the postseason. Some of the most intense and consistent perimeter D from a small player you will ever see.

When building the team last few years their backcourt defense was terrible, 28th and 26th. And Buchanan said so.

"That was obviously a weak spot for this team last year," general manager Chad Buchanan said. "We were a terrific offensive team, a historic offense and I think our coaches and our players know for us to take that next step (we have to be better on defense.)

He publically said they had to improve on D. What they didn't do was just get rid of all their current guards, they got a defensive big man and banked on improvement from their young guards. Nembhard made huge strides on defense, he wasn't drafted as a defender and that was scouted as a weakness instead.

And as good as Nembhard is now, he's still not as good as Caruso who we had and we still had a bad defense.
It's pretty clear the problem on the Bulls defense are the bigs, which have been PWill & Vucevic for most of the last few years.

IMO, there is a hard to quantify spill-over impact of a great rim protecting big that helps the other players on teams like INDY look so much better defensively than where the opposite happens like with us.

[Chi town]

How is Nembhard being discussed as a poor defender? Dude was an absolute animal on D in the postseason. Some of the most intense and consistent perimeter D from a small player you will ever see.

When building the team last few years their backcourt defense was terrible, 28th and 26th. And Buchanan said so.

"That was obviously a weak spot for this team last year," general manager Chad Buchanan said. "We were a terrific offensive team, a historic offense and I think our coaches and our players know for us to take that next step (we have to be better on defense.)

He publically said they had to improve on D. What they didn't do was just get rid of all their current guards, they got a defensive big man and banked on improvement from their young guards. Nembhard made huge strides on defense, he wasn't drafted as a defender and that was scouted as a weakness instead.

And as good as Nembhard is now, he's still not as good as Caruso who we had and we still had a bad defense.
It's pretty clear the problem on the Bulls defense are the bigs, which have been PWill & Vucevic for most of the last few years.

IMO, there is a hard to quantify spill-over impact of a great rim protecting big that helps the other players on teams like INDY look so much better defensively than where the opposite happens like with us.

Bingo.

It’s similar to a team without a PG and instead a chuck that only passes after the shot clock is run down and has t gotten to their spot… I’m looking at you DDR.

[ShouldaPaidBG]

My complaint with Coby is actually his scoring. You can have other weaknesses, but if you're a scoring guard and want to be the #1 or 2 option on a team, you need to be 1. Consistent (it feels like 12% of Coby's games are 0 from the field) and 2. Hyper effiicent (over 60%TS. this could be slightly lower if he was also a playmaker but he's not, he's basically a gunner)

He's just not efficient enough to be the 1 or 2 on a good team. Can he get more efficient? Yes. But I just don't trust his mental fortitude given his penchant for going COLD cold that we've seen for his entire career. To me that represents a mental trait that is core to his personality.

[Chi town]

Fischer saying Coby wants more than 30 next summer.

https://www.bleachernation.com/bulls/2025/08/08/coby-white-bulls-pay/

I expect Coby to play well and Bulls pay him.

If AK gets a Bane type deal he will be traded and Bulls will tank out and get a great draft pick.

[sco]

Fischer saying Coby wants more than 30 next summer.

https://www.bleachernation.com/bulls/2025/08/08/coby-white-bulls-pay/

I expect Coby to play well and Bulls pay him.

If AK gets a Bane type deal he will be traded and Bulls will tank out and get a great draft pick.

There are 2 differences between Coby's situation and Giddey's. First, Coby will have the full year to show he's either worth it (i.e. a top 10-15 SG), and second that he is a UFA, so the Bulls won't have leverage. Honestly, I'd be thrilled if he played well enough to get a MAX deal, but at least we won't be entering the deal with nearly the uncertainty that we have with Giddey's performance.

[TheJordanRule]

Fischer saying Coby wants more than 30 next summer.

https://www.bleachernation.com/bulls/2025/08/08/coby-white-bulls-pay/

I expect Coby to play well and Bulls pay him.

If AK gets a Bane type deal he will be traded and Bulls will tank out and get a great draft pick.

Ugh... get this noncore guy outta here while we still can get something in exchange for him. He has improved to be a Zach Lavine clone, with problems defensively and a streaky but overall efficient offense. I want more from my starting SG, especially if I'm pairing him with Josh Giddey.

[kodo]

To be clear, there is a world where Giddey and White can succeed together. We saw this over the final 30 or so games of the 2024-25 season. However, can they succeed past the Play-In Tournament? Can they be the backbone of a true contender in the East? If one thing is for sure, paying two guards upwards of $55.0 million a season is only a move you make if you believe so.

Bulls are nervous about paying 2 guards who create for themselves and others and led the team to a 17-10 record together $55M together.

But paying Vucevic, Collins, and Williams $58M? No problem, glad to pay that amount for 3 guys and the Bulls still have the worst big man rotation in the league.

This was literally the exact same train of though that led the Bulls to trading Butler. "Butler is good and been the only bright part of this team, but he hasn't led us past the 1st round. We can't afford to pay him."

[sco]

To be clear, there is a world where Giddey and White can succeed together. We saw this over the final 30 or so games of the 2024-25 season. However, can they succeed past the Play-In Tournament? Can they be the backbone of a true contender in the East? If one thing is for sure, paying two guards upwards of $55.0 million a season is only a move you make if you believe so.

Bulls are nervous about paying 2 guards who create for themselves and others and led the team to a 17-10 record together $55M together.

But paying Vucevic, Collins, and Williams $58M? No problem, glad to pay that amount for 3 guys and the Bulls still have the worst big man rotation in the league.

This was literally the exact same train of though that led the Bulls to trading Butler. "Butler is good and been the only bright part of this team, but he hasn't led us past the 1st round. We can't afford to pay him."

Good point. The Butler situation was interesting. He was clearly a better player, but he was trending toward a SUPERMAX deal and I don't think they thought he was worth it, and signing him to that deal would cripple their ability to put a good team around him. Also, he is a tough guy to coach. Also, at the time, he seemed to be becoming more injury prone. Still, in hindsight, it would have been the right move.

[Chi town]

Post ASB Coby will get 35. Prob 40.

[kodo]

Cam Thomas looking for $30M - $40M.

One league source told NetsDaily where Thomas sees his market, using comparable players around the league: Jalen Green, making $33.3 million per year until 2027-28, when he has a $36 million player option…Immanuel Quickley, making $32.5 million over the next four years…Tyler Herro averaging $32 million over the next two years…That’s where he sees his market, if not higher,” said the source…This suggests Thomas is searching for an annual salary starting at $30 million, likely closer to $40 million.

[Dez]

Cam Thomas looking for $30M - $40M.

One league source told NetsDaily where Thomas sees his market, using comparable players around the league: Jalen Green, making $33.3 million per year until 2027-28, when he has a $36 million player option…Immanuel Quickley, making $32.5 million over the next four years…Tyler Herro averaging $32 million over the next two years…That’s where he sees his market, if not higher,” said the source…This suggests Thomas is searching for an annual salary starting at $30 million, likely closer to $40 million.

He'll be looking for a long time.

[sco]

Cam Thomas looking for $30M - $40M.

One league source told NetsDaily where Thomas sees his market, using comparable players around the league: Jalen Green, making $33.3 million per year until 2027-28, when he has a $36 million player option…Immanuel Quickley, making $32.5 million over the next four years…Tyler Herro averaging $32 million over the next two years…That’s where he sees his market, if not higher,” said the source…This suggests Thomas is searching for an annual salary starting at $30 million, likely closer to $40 million.

He'll be looking for a long time.

Yeah, but I do expect him to get at least in the high 20's. Here's the problem with being a bad team. Is Thomas good enough to be a #1 option on a good team? NO! But somebody had to take all the shots on the BKN team, and in doing so, it padded his stats (and his $ expectations as well because of it).

We might be saying the same about Coby next season. Say we're just a 33 win team as Vegas expects, but Coby balls out...because, again, somebody will have to take the shots. It's easy to see how a similar disagreement might emerge here. That's why many want Coby gone.

Now, at least during his hot stretch, Coby was more efficient than Thomas and is a better 3pt shooter. Also, if this team surprises to the upside with Coby as our lead scorer, I start thinking about the situation differently.

[Almost Retired]

No third contracts without banners being hung from the rafters of the United Center. That's my philosophy. Trade him.

[sco]

No third contracts without banners being hung from the rafters of the United Center. That's my philosophy. Trade him.

Ok. For who?

[drosestruts]

Coby is a pretty good indicator of the increased talent and parity in the NBA.

He just came off a season scoring 20 points per game on 60% TS% with only 33% of his 2PFG and 75% of his 3PFG being assisted.

You go back five years to the 2019-20 season, there's 3 guards scoring 20+ on 60+ TS% and they were Lillard, Harden, and Devin Booker

With Norm Powell and CP3 close but scoring a few points under 20

[kodo]

Cam Thomas looking for $30M - $40M.

He'll be looking for a long time.

Yeah, but I do expect him to get at least in the high 20's. Here's the problem with being a bad team. Is Thomas good enough to be a #1 option on a good team? NO! But somebody had to take all the shots on the BKN team, and in doing so, it padded his stats (and his $ expectations as well because of it).

We might be saying the same about Coby next season. Say we're just a 33 win team as Vegas expects, but Coby balls out...because, again, somebody will have to take the shots. It's easy to see how a similar disagreement might emerge here. That's why many want Coby gone.

Now, at least during his hot stretch, Coby was more efficient than Thomas and is a better 3pt shooter. Also, if this team surprises to the upside with Coby as our lead scorer, I start thinking about the situation differently.

Agreed, I also think Coby is better than Cam so I think it's a good benchmark of what agents will think their client is worth.
Unlike us just bantering about player value, the job of agent is to informally talk under the table with the other 29 orgs and have a firm understanding of what they can get next offseason.

People said Brandon Ingram was delusional to stand firm on $40M per year and break ties with NOP, especially after missing another season with injury. At the end of the day it took a while, but he got his 40. The guy is a 20 ppg player with no defense, on a below average 56% TS, and averages about 40 games per season last 3 seasons.

If CAA thinks they can get Coby $35M to $40M next season, I'd tend to believe CAA. They're one of the most powerful groups in basketball and entertainment in general.

[_txchilibowl_]

Coby is a pretty good indicator of the increased talent and parity in the NBA.

He just came off a season scoring 20 points per game on 60% TS% with only 33% of his 2PFG and 75% of his 3PFG being assisted.

You go back five years to the 2019-20 season, there's 3 guards scoring 20+ on 60+ TS% and they were Lillard, Harden, and Devin Booker

With Norm Powell and CP3 close but scoring a few points under 20

It has more to do with jacking 3's and the continued deterioration of defensive basketball in the NBA than it does Coby being in the same league as those guys. Basically, that stat don't mean what it used to.

[drosestruts]

Coby is a pretty good indicator of the increased talent and parity in the NBA.

He just came off a season scoring 20 points per game on 60% TS% with only 33% of his 2PFG and 75% of his 3PFG being assisted.

You go back five years to the 2019-20 season, there's 3 guards scoring 20+ on 60+ TS% and they were Lillard, Harden, and Devin Booker

With Norm Powell and CP3 close but scoring a few points under 20

It has more to do with jacking 3's and the continued deterioration of defensive basketball in the NBA than it does Coby being in the same league as those guys. Basically, that stat don't mean what it used to.

I for one would not credit Coby's increase in effeciency solely due to hitting 7 more 3's this year than last year.

In fact, I'd put more emphasis on his increased 2P% (50.8 -> 54.4) and his increased FT% (83.8 -> 90.2)

The really funny thing about Coby White is that he scored the exact same amount of points in 2024-25 as he did in 2023-24, while shooting relativley the same % for 3.

I find your post very "old man yells at cloud" and not supported at all by Coby's play this season or his stats.

[_txchilibowl_]

Coby is a pretty good indicator of the increased talent and parity in the NBA.

He just came off a season scoring 20 points per game on 60% TS% with only 33% of his 2PFG and 75% of his 3PFG being assisted.

You go back five years to the 2019-20 season, there's 3 guards scoring 20+ on 60+ TS% and they were Lillard, Harden, and Devin Booker

With Norm Powell and CP3 close but scoring a few points under 20

It has more to do with jacking 3's and the continued deterioration of defensive basketball in the NBA than it does Coby being in the same league as those guys. Basically, that stat don't mean what it used to.

I for one would not credit Coby's increase in effeciency solely due to hitting 7 more 3's this year than last year.

In fact, I'd put more emphasis on his increased 2P% (50.8 -> 54.4) and his increased FT% (83.8 -> 90.2)

The really funny thing about Coby White is that he scored the exact same amount of points in 2024-25 as he did in 2023-24, while shooting relativley the same % for 3.

I find your post very "old man yells at cloud" and not supported at all by Coby's play this season or his stats.

Call it what you want but the fact is offensive efficiency has been increasing year over year for a while now. Just seems like an arbitrary measuring stick designed to make Coby look good. Bear in mind I like Coby, I just don't think he belongs in the same sentence as Lillard or Harden.

Now if you'll excuse me I have to change my Depends and take a nap.