Over the last two seasons, the Minnesota Timberwolves have been one of the best teams in the league. They have reached the Western Conference Finals in back-to-back seasons, and Anthony Edwards is officially one of the top players in the league. However, the team still feels like it’s a piece away from getting over the hump and reaching the NBA Finals.
The most logical move for the Timberwolves has been to find an adequate backcourt mate for Edwards. Some rumors have already come out that the Timberwolves could pursue the likes of Kyrie Irving and James Harden, but those deals seem unlikely.
A player that feels more realistic for the Timberwolves to acquire is Coby White of the Chicago Bulls. Beat writer for the Bulls, Joe Cowley, wrote that the Timberwolves have inquired about White, looking to pair him up with Edwards.
Cowley followed that up by saying, “Minnesota is not looking to wait until February and the trade deadline to get a deal done, looking to fix the primary ball-handling situation that’s been an issue all season long for them.” Not only are the Timberwolves interested in White, but they are also hoping to find some help for Edwards sooner rather than later.
How Does White Fit Alongside Anthony Edwards
GettyAnthony Edwards is celebrating a made basket.
Right away, the pairing of Edwards and White is a little head-scratching. The biggest concern is that both players are shoot-first guards and not the greatest playmakers. Edwards’ role isn’t to be a playmaker, as he is averaging 28.7 points and 3.8 assists per game, which means White will have to adjust.
White has never been known for his playmaking, only averaging 3.9 assists over his seven-year career. But, in seven games this season, he is averaging what would be a career high of 5.4 assists. In those seven games, five of them, White had six or more assists.
However, maybe Minnesota has other plans for White. Outside of Edwards, there is really no other guard on the roster that the Timberwolves can run their offense through. If anything, White can do that. He has averaged 19.7 points per game over the last two seasons with the Bulls, serving as the focal point of the offense.
How Can White Join Minnesota
GettyAnthony Edwards on the Timberwolves (left) and Coby White on the Bulls (right).
White is on a pretty team-friendly deal, which also happens to be an expiring contract. Spotrac shows that White is owed a little under $13 million this season, before becoming a free agent, leaving the door open for the Timberwolves to re-sign him if things go smoothly.
Due to White’s contract, the salaries to make this deal are easy to figure out. Donte DiVincenzo is making nearly $12 million this season and $12.5 million in 2026-27, almost perfectly lining up with White. The Timberwolves will have to sweeten the pot a little more with picks, but they can also add in a player with upside, such as Terrence Shannon Jr. or Bones Hyland.
However, the Timberwolves and Edwards will have to wait till the Bulls are ready to deal. Despite a hot start to the season, the Bulls have lost their last seven games and are sliding down the Eastern Conference standings. But the Bulls have consistently refused to be sellers at the deadline, despite not making the playoffs since the 2021-22 season. If this is the season the Bulls sell, White is an asset that could be moved, with the Timberwolves possibly benefiting.
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