Bulls guard Coby White, the seventh overall pick in the 2019 draft, was eligible for a rookie scale extension up until Monday’s deadline, but he never really thought he’d sign a new deal this year, according to Rob Schaefer of NBC Sports Chicago.
“No, no. I didn’t,” White said on Tuesday. “I wasn’t really focused on that. Just play this year out. I put in a lot of work this summer, so let my work show, and take it from there.”
White also dismissed the idea that entering a contract year and playing for his next contract will provide any extra motivation this season: “Nah, I love playing basketball. That’s all the motivation I need. I love playing, I love hooping. I’ve had motivation my whole life. I ain’t gonna change nothing now.”
In other Bulls news, the team’s 2020 lottery pick, Patrick Williams, will open the season as the starting power forward, head coach Billy Donovan confirmed today (Twitter link via Darnell Mayberry of The Athletic). Williams came off the bench in multiple preseason games as Javonte Green shone, but Green will be part of the second unit to open the season.
Here’s more from around the Central:
- The Cavaliers feel as if Evan Mobley has Hall of Fame potential and believe his development is the key to whether the team can become a legitimate championship contender, Chris Fedor writes in an excellent article for Cleveland.com. “Evan needs to be in a position where people look at us and say, ‘Evan is their best player,'” assistant coach Greg Buckner said. “It can’t be, ‘Donovan (Mitchell) is their best player, Darius (Garland) is their best player or J.A. (Jarrett Allen) is their best player.’ It has to be Evan.” That view is shared by head coach J.B. Bickerstaff, according to assistant coach Luke Walton. “J.B. talks about it all the time with us: We need Evan to be one of the best players in this league, if not the best player in this league, if we’re gonna win championships,” Walton said. “That’s our mission coming from J.B. — help him get to that level.”
- Hoops Rumors has confirmed that Didi Louzada is eligible to become an affiliate player for the Cleveland Charge after signing a two-way contract (rather than an Exhibit 10 deal) with the Cavaliers on Monday and being waived shortly thereafter. Michael Scotto of HoopsHype first reported the Cavs’ plan to secure Louzada’s G League rights.
- With Khris Middleton and Joe Ingles already ruled out for the start of the season, the Bucks will also be without Pat Connaughton for a few weeks, prompting Eric Nehm of The Athletic to explore how the team will deal with all its injury absences. As Nehm details, George Hill, Jevon Carter, and Wesley Matthews all figure to play increased roles, with young wings Jordan Nwora and MarJon Beauchamp potentially seeing action too.
- Pacers forward James Johnson was happy to earn the team’s final roster spot, beating out Langston Galloway and Deividas Sirvydis. However, as Scott Agness of Fieldhouse Files relays, Johnson knows that he can’t get comfortable yet, since his contract still isn’t fully guaranteed for the season. “It’s an honor for this spot, but at the end of the day I’m still vulnerable,” he said.
I’ve been saying it since the beginning….. Evan Mobley is a future Hall of Famer. So many great young bigs in today’s game but there isn’t a better all around basketball player among them.
Luke, do you think that the Louzada transaction (as a 2-way, rather than E10 contract) was done due to his late signing and to avoid a couple days’ salary charge ending up on their salary sheets?
Absolutely. I didn’t think a two-way signing secured affiliate rights. I’m surprised we haven’t seen that more often, though I guess it only makes sense in very specific situations (on the Sunday or Monday before the regular season starts, when the team still has a two-way slot available to use).
Jesus, put pressure on a guy much? There’s pumping a guy up and then there’s telling him he absolutely must be the best on a team which already features multiple All-Stars.
But sure, I guess if the offense comes around and with his defense already being so good, he could be the most valuable player on the team even if he isn’t the flashiest.
White need a new team that can use him correctly as the next Lou Williams and play him as a Sixth Man Scoring Guard.
Patrick Williams needs to make the leap this year but Ayo and Terry are the two to watch this season.
That’s what Donovan tried to use him as last season for parts of the year. White has just been very inconsistent on a night to night basis.
One game he will be on fire, draining threes, shooting with confidence, and even making some solid drives and plays for others, but then, it’s like he becomes disinterested, cranks a bunch of threes that never even look like they have a chance, and then flails and gets beaten and outhustled on the other end of the court.
I’m wholeheartedly rooting for C.White, because his scoring and 3-point shooting and spacing could do wonders off the bench for the Bulls. I just hope he has put this off-season to good use, and hope he’s able to play well on a more consistent basis.
The Bulls have a few question marks that will decide whether or not they’re a really good team or whether they’re just fighting to get into the play-in tournament. Patrick Williams development, Lonzo Ball’s health, and Colby White and Caruso becoming their sparkplugs off the bench with their 3-piint shooting will ultimately decide this team’s season.
Derozan and LaVine are going to get theirs and put up a combined 50+ each night, but they’re going to need Vooch, Williams, White, Ayo, and Caruso to step up all their offensive efforts to get to where they want to go.
Defensively, the Bulls should get enough quality play from Patrick Williams, Ayo Dosunmu, Alex Caruso, Javonte Green, and Dalen Terry..The real icing on the cake will be whenever Lonzo finally comes back, then the Bulls could be a serious triple-threat offensively, defensively, and in transition..
On one last note, I honestly wouldn’t sleep on Javonte Green nor Dalen Terry surprising some people this season either, and helping play key roles for the Bulls on their way to a playoff run…Green has looked pretty dang awesome offensively this pre-season, and the dude plays PF at 6’4″, so that should tell you how stout he can he defensively. Both Terry and Green could be surprising two-way studs…Or maybe that’s just my rose-colored bias lenses wishing it into existence…!? lol
Green is a great bench guy and Terry along with Ayo are kids to watch, so I agree with everything you wrote.