Bulls shake up backcourt as Hornets land Coby White and Mike Conley
Chicago and Charlotte made one of deadline week’s clearest win-now vs. reset trades, sending Coby White and Mike Conley Jr. to the Hornets and bringing Collin Sexton and Ousmane Dieng to the Bulls in a multi-team construction that also moved Mason Plumlee to Oklahoma City. With the NBA trade deadline set for 3 p.m. ET on Thursday, Feb. 5, the deal quickly became a reference point for how aggressively teams are willing to spend draft capital for guard depth.
Bulls trade: White and Conley out, Sexton in
Chicago’s move continues a broader roster overhaul ahead of the deadline window closing. White, 26, had been one of the Bulls’ most productive guards this season, and Conley, 38, was the veteran stabilizer type teams often value for the stretch run. Instead of riding out the season with that mix, Chicago opted for a younger scoring guard in Sexton, plus a developmental forward in Dieng, and additional second-round picks.
The bet is twofold: Sexton can soak up creation reps immediately, and the Bulls gain extra flexibility with draft capital and a younger age curve. The cost is giving up a homegrown guard who had become a central part of their nightly offense.
Hornets trade: adding guard depth for a push
Charlotte’s side is straightforward: add talent and experience to the backcourt without waiting for the summer. White gives the Hornets another downhill scorer who can also space the floor, while Conley offers a veteran organizer who can steady bench units and manage late-game possessions.
How Conley fits is the key question. His value depends on role and health, and there is a real possibility his situation changes again if Charlotte chooses to adjust its roster after the deadline. For now, the Hornets have clearly prioritized depth and optionality at guard.
The three-team wrinkle: Plumlee and the pick flow
This was not a clean two-team swap. Mason Plumlee was routed to Oklahoma City as part of the structure that helped make the salaries and assets align. The Bulls’ return includes multiple second-round picks, and Charlotte also received an additional future second-rounder in the broader sequence.
That pick flow matters because second-rounders are increasingly used as grease in deadline deals: they can settle value gaps, help teams justify taking on money, or create future trade ammo without touching premier first-round assets.
| Team | Receives | Sends |
|---|---|---|
| Hornets | Coby White, Mike Conley Jr. (plus a future 2nd in the sequence) | Collin Sexton, Ousmane Dieng, three 2nds |
| Bulls | Collin Sexton, Ousmane Dieng, three 2nds | Coby White, Mike Conley Jr. |
| Thunder | Mason Plumlee | Ousmane Dieng (rerouted) and a 2nd in the sequence |
What it means on the court for Chicago
Sexton brings a different shape than White: more direct rim pressure and quick-hit scoring, with the downside that his fit can depend on surrounding defense and lineup balance. If Chicago is leaning into a retool, Sexton’s ability to carry offense for stretches can be valuable even if the roster around him shifts again.
Dieng is the longer-view piece. His development track has been uneven, but the tools—size, mobility, and flashes of playmaking—fit the type of upside bet rebuilding or retooling teams often make at the deadline.
What it means on the court for Charlotte
For Charlotte, White plugs into a backcourt that wants pace and spacing. If he’s healthy and in rhythm, he can take pressure off primary creators and keep second units from stalling. Conley is less about volume and more about organization: cleaner possessions, better shot quality late in the clock, and a calming presence on tight nights.
The roster question is whether Charlotte is done. Teams that add two guards at once often follow with a consolidation move—either flipping another rotation piece or addressing a separate need (frontcourt depth, perimeter defense, or shooting).
What to watch as the deadline hits 3 p.m. ET
Two immediate indicators will shape how this trade is judged in the short term:
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Role clarity in Charlotte: If White starts and Conley quarterbacks the bench, the fit is clean. If minutes become crowded, the Hornets may still pivot before the deadline.
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Chicago’s next step: Adding Sexton and picks can be either the end of a reshuffle or the middle of it. If more veterans move, this deal reads like a turning-the-page moment rather than a one-off swap.
Either way, this move has already set a tone for deadline day: teams are willing to pay real pick value to solve guard depth now, and teams pivoting toward flexibility are happy to take the picks and younger contracts.
Sources consulted: Reuters, NBA.com, ESPN, Yahoo Sports
