Opinion: Coby White is an MLE Level Player

[dougthonus]

I agree that better shooting and decision making are the two main routes Coby has to becoming a better player. However, that just begs the question......why didn't he do that this year There's not really an argument for him getting better in the future that you can't make now.

You can see that he's trying to up his 3PT volume this year, but the accuracy hasn't been enough to result in improved efficiency.

First, not suggesting that he will, just that it is the area where it is most feasible.

Second, to your point, he massively changed his shot profile, if he did that and stayed at the same accuracy it likely would have been a pretty huge improvement. It's not out of the realm of possibility that it takes a year at this volume to get this volume with more accuracy.

That said, I would tend to agree, even if he got to career accuracy at this volume, it wouldn't be a huge difference maker, he needs to get to like 40% at this volume which is a big gap. As I said, not likely, just the one narrow path he has to be a truly valuable player IMO.

I think the hope behind his development arc is that he'd narrow his role to get better at playmaking, and then expand his offense once the game recognition improved. But his turnovers have gone backup with his increased offensive responsibility, so we're kind of back to square one.

For me the broader issue with Coby is he just isn't that efficient of a scorer. His peak TS% is 57% if I recall correctly and that's probably about the current league average. If you are _just_ a scorer, you better be a high volume shot creator over 60% (like say Zach LaVine).

[sco]

I agree that better shooting and decision making are the two main routes Coby has to becoming a better player. However, that just begs the question......why didn't he do that this year There's not really an argument for him getting better in the future that you can't make now.

You can see that he's trying to up his 3PT volume this year, but the accuracy hasn't been enough to result in improved efficiency.

First, not suggesting that he will, just that it is the area where it is most feasible.

Second, to your point, he massively changed his shot profile, if he did that and stayed at the same accuracy it likely would have been a pretty huge improvement. It's not out of the realm of possibility that it takes a year at this volume to get this volume with more accuracy.

That said, I would tend to agree, even if he got to career accuracy at this volume, it wouldn't be a huge difference maker, he needs to get to like 40% at this volume which is a big gap. As I said, not likely, just the one narrow path he has to be a truly valuable player IMO.

I think the hope behind his development arc is that he'd narrow his role to get better at playmaking, and then expand his offense once the game recognition improved. But his turnovers have gone backup with his increased offensive responsibility, so we're kind of back to square one.

For me the broader issue with Coby is he just isn't that efficient of a scorer. His peak TS% is 57% if I recall correctly and that's probably about the current league average. If you are _just_ a scorer, you better be a high volume shot creator over 60% (like say Zach LaVine).

I go back and forth on Coby being close to his peak. On the one hand he's been in the same system with the same coach for a while now. On the other hand, I don't think I can remember a player whose role has changed so often during his career...from PG, to SG and back and forth again, coupled with a major ramp up in 3's, coupled with significant changes in who he's playing next to.

I don't mind trading Coby, because he his defense is so flawed. That said, any trade decision on Coby hinge on who else goes (i.e. Zach and/or Giddey). Also, what we get back. If he is a MLE level player, that's ok as long as he's not being paid more than that, which isn't the case today, and if he continues playing this way, same for his next deal.

If we do trade Zach, then I feel like we need to decide between Giddey and Coby because they seem to be so flawed defensively as a pairing.

[dougthonus]

I go back and forth on Coby being close to his peak. On the one hand he's been in the same system with the same coach for a while now. On the other hand, I don't think I can remember a player whose role has changed so often during his career...from PG, to SG and back and forth again, coupled with a major ramp up in 3's, coupled with significant changes in who he's playing next to.

I'm not an NBA player, so I might be totally wrong on this, but I think the thought of his role changing is just overstated. He's been a scoring guard his whole career. At times he may have had more responsibility to bring the ball up the floor or feed the post a bit more to initiate the offense, but after the initial set up, his role I think is pretty fluid within the offense. I just think people put way too much on PG vs SG in the NBA.

If you look at his FGA and Assists per 36 ever year he's been in the league, there is a reasonably consistent amount of data there which says whether he's playing PG or SG, the way he's behaving isn't ultimately that different. He's never going from a 20 FGA / 3 AST per 36 guy to a 10 FGA / 10 AST per 36 or anything like that.

I don't mind trading Coby, because he his defense is so flawed. That said, any trade decision on Coby hinge on who else goes (i.e. Zach and/or Giddey). Also, what we get back. If he is a MLE level player, that's ok as long as he's not being paid more than that, which isn't the case today, and if he continues playing this way, same for his next deal.

I think he's fine (even good) on his current salary. I think if he maintains this years level of play he'll probably command a similar salary in the future (maybe slight raise). I agree from a trade perspective it all depends what you get back and what else you are doing which I think is true for everyone on this roster even Vuc/Zach.

If we do trade Zach, then I feel like we need to decide between Giddey and Coby because they seem to be so flawed defensively as a pairing.

Probably true if Zach stays too (except maybe you think its more clear that you keep Giddey in that case?). I think the decision on Giddey will come down to what his contract looks like. Based on his production this year, my guess is he's trending more towards MLE level than the 30M he was hoping for.

[SHO'NUFF]

Someone needs to tell Coby he's not who he thinks he is. He's the prototypical NBA chucker. Very inconsistent.

[cocktailswith_2short]

He's pretty far down the totem pole so his role is what it is. Hes not a star just a capable piece being asked to do to much on a bad team .

[Bulliever2020]

His optimal role is and always will be 6th man scoring guard wildcard off the bench.

The sooner him and whichever team he plays for at that point realize this, the better it will be for both of them.

[Hangtime84]

Imo keep trying to break through that ceiling Coby. The bulls need you to those deep 3s are needed. That wrist injury he had he really hasn’t returned to form.

Roster perspective Ayo is the more winning player keep him.

[DASMACKDOWN]

Someone needs to tell Coby he's not who he thinks he is. He's the prototypical NBA chucker. Very inconsistent.

For the longest I was fighting this train of thought. But I guess I can see what you mean.

So It had me thinking, do I think Coby is a better player than Lou Williams or Jamal Crawford. I would have to say no. And Lou over his full career has less starts than Coby.

[ChiTownHero1992]

Since we drafted him, I always felt that Coby was a good Super-6th man type of role, some nights he'll look like a stud, others a dud. He can have some firey scoring off the bench but look lost as a starter. The unfortunate thing with this roster is that it is built off these types!

Coby - Great 6th man type
Ayo - Another 6-7th man type (gets hindered offensively too often by players around him, was a lead scoring guard in HS and NCAA)
Williams - a bench 3/4 hybrid defensive stopper
Smith - a spark plug bench big

There is little to no starting talent in the youth movement, and the vets are attrocious for what we pay them to be