The most significant question marks on the Portland Trail Blazers' roster lie in the backcourt.
Is Scoot Henderson their long-term solution at point guard? Will Shaedon Sharpe be able to put it all together on a more consistent basis? Can Jrue Holiday stay healthy? Will Damian Lillard return to form next season?
With Holiday and Lillard both nearing the end of their careers at 35 years old and Henderson yet to earn the keys to the backcourt (in part due to an untimely injury), it could make sense for Portland to seek reinforcements at the deadline. And suddenly, a combo guard like Coby White would provide them insurance for all these unanswered questions that aren't all likely to work out in Portland's favor.
Blazers should target Coby White at the deadline
White is the seventh-ranked player on Bleacher Report's NBA trade block big board. B/R's Eric Pincus lists the Milwaukee Bucks, Minnesota Timberwolves, and Sacramento Kings as "realistic landing spots," but it could make sense for Portland to include itself in that list.
White dealt with a calf injury earlier in the season, contributing to what has been a relatively down year by his standards. Even then, the Chicago Bulls guard is still averaging 17.9 points, 4.6 assists, and 3.6 rebounds on 45/32/79 shooting splits.
The declining three-point shot isn't a concern, as White has consistently hovered around 37% in the past four seasons. That's a large enough sample size that indicates his decreased efficiency this season was more due to injury than anything else.
His playmaking and floor spacing would immediately boost a Blazers offense that's in dire need of both. Portland is dead last in turnovers per game (16.8) and tied for last in three-point percentage (33.8) with the Indiana Pacers. That's a serious roster problem that extends far beyond just the health of their current players.
If Portland were to address these problems with a trade with the Bulls, it likely wouldn't cost them that much, either. Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints recently reported that the Bulls are seeking an unprotected first-round pick in any deal for White. Would Orlando's 2028 first-round pick, which they acquired from their draft-day trade with Memphis, be enough? It's certainly worth exploring, as White would be an ideal addition to their young core at just 25 years old.
One potential downside of acquiring White would be his contract situation. While he's currently only on a team-friendly deal at $12.9 million, it's also set to expire after this season. Even if Portland is able to retain him, that's going to be a significant chunk to pay (hence why he's on the trade block).
But given how much he'd help address Portland's backcourt problems, we ultimately think White would be worth the price, both in terms of assets surrendered to Chicago and a potential next contract.