Coby White is positioning himself for a substantial contract extension following his breakout season with the "Chicago Bulls". The 25-year-old guard put together career-high numbers last year, averaging 20.4 points and 4.5 assists per game while maintaining a solid 37 percent shooting mark from beyond the arc.
"The Bulls have to be factoring in the fact that Coby White is going to be up for a massive payday himself next year," – NBA insider Jake Fischer told Bleacher Report. "And there's already buzz of Coby White wanting even higher than that $30 million average annual figure we keep talking about."
The timing puts the Chicago Bulls in a difficult position. White will hit unrestricted free agency after the upcoming season unless both sides reach an extension agreement. Not exactly a simple decision when you're potentially looking at more than doubling his current $12.9 million salary.
Interestingly, White has emerged as one of the few bright spots in what has been a disappointing stretch for the Bulls. His development has been steady, culminating in last season's statistical jump.
The front office now faces a critical question. Is White worth the long-term financial commitment that could approach All-Star level money? Let him walk and you lose a developing asset for nothing. Pay him and you're betting big on his continued growth.
What would you do if you were running the Bulls? Sometimes the hardest decisions are the ones that define a franchise's direction for years to come.
