Coby White and Ayo Dosunmu emerge as next Bulls trade chips, Shams says

Chicago’s roster shake-up is accelerating toward the NBA trade deadline, and the next decisions appear to center on guards Coby White and Ayo Dosunmu. After a flurry of moves that brought more backcourt bodies into the building, league chatter has shifted from “will the Bulls sell?” to “how many more pieces can move before Thursday’s 3:00 p.m. ET deadline.”

On Tuesday night, NBA insider Shams Charania said White and Dosunmu “could be on the move next,” framing Chicago’s deadline week as a continuing teardown-and-retool rather than a one-and-done deal.

Why White and Dosunmu are suddenly in focus

The simple math is driving the rumors. Chicago already had a crowded guard rotation, and the team just added more ballhandlers and scorers. A roster can only support so many players who need touches, minutes, and late-game responsibility — and the Bulls now face a logjam with multiple guards capable of starting.

White and Dosunmu also sit in the “valuable but movable” tier: both are productive, both can fit into competitive lineups elsewhere, and neither is so untouchable that Chicago would refuse calls if the return is strong. With the Bulls pivoting younger, rival teams see an opening to buy talent that can help immediately.

The trades that changed Chicago’s deadline posture

Chicago’s deadline week turned loud on Tuesday with two major transactions.

First, the Bulls dealt veteran center Nikola Vucevic to Boston in a move that brought back guard Anfernee Simons along with draft compensation. Then, Chicago completed a three-team deal that landed Jaden Ivey and Mike Conley Jr. while sending out Kevin Huerter and other pieces.

Taken together, the moves read like an organization changing direction quickly: thinning out older frontcourt salary, adding younger perimeter upside, and collecting flexibility for what comes next. The consequence is that the Bulls’ guard room expanded — and that expansion is what makes White and Dosunmu harder to keep without sacrificing clarity on roles.

What teams want in a Coby White deal

White’s appeal is clean: shot creation, spacing, and the ability to heat up fast. On a contender, he can slot as a secondary scorer who punishes second units or closes games when extra offense is needed. On a team lacking perimeter shooting, he becomes a plug-and-play upgrade.

The sticking point is cost versus fit. A team trading for White has to believe his offense holds up in playoff possessions and that his decision-making can scale in high-leverage minutes. If a bidder sees him as a sixth-man scorer, the offer may be lighter. If a bidder sees him as a long-term starter, the price climbs quickly.

Ayo Dosunmu’s value looks different — and that helps him

Dosunmu is a different kind of trade target. He has been asked to handle playmaking stretches, defend multiple positions, and fill gaps created by injuries — the kind of role versatility that front offices love at the deadline.

He also has recent performance momentum. Over the weekend, Dosunmu posted a season-high scoring night in a short-handed win, showing the ceiling he can reach when he has more on-ball responsibility. Even in games where his scoring is quieter, his defensive effort and connective passing can fit almost anywhere.

That combination — two-way utility plus the ability to spike as a scorer — can make Dosunmu easier to integrate than a more offense-only guard, especially for teams that need perimeter defense without sacrificing pace.

What Shams’ comment signals about Chicago’s plan

Charania’s “more movement” framing lines up with how Chicago’s week already looks: the Bulls are acting like a team trying to reset its timeline rather than cling to a middling path. If that is the plan, dealing from the guard surplus becomes the most logical next step.

It also suggests Chicago may prioritize either:

• draft assets and future flexibility, or

• young players who fit the new timeline more cleanly than a crowded veteran-leaning rotation.

Key takeaways

• Chicago’s guard rotation is now crowded enough that another trade feels structurally likely.

• White’s market will hinge on whether teams view him as a playoff starter or a high-end scoring reserve.

• Dosunmu’s two-way versatility makes him a clean fit for more teams, which can widen bidding.

• The next 36 hours should clarify whether Chicago is aiming for one more big deal or multiple smaller moves.

What to watch before Thursday at 3:00 p.m. ET

If White or Dosunmu moves, it will probably come with one of two signals: either Chicago is accumulating picks and cap flexibility, or it is consolidating toward a clearer young core. The tempo matters too — once a team sees Chicago make two major trades in a day, they tend to assume more is possible and push harder with offers.

The biggest tell will be whether Chicago brings in a frontcourt piece (or additional draft assets) to balance a roster that has tilted heavily toward guards. If that happens, it’s a strong indication that at least one of White or Dosunmu is being moved as part of a broader reshaping, not just a one-off swap.

Sources consulted: Reuters, ESPN, Associated Press, NBA.com