Bulls asking price should prompt Rockets to pass on Coby White

The Houston Rockets could use an on-ball facilitating guard. Everybody talks about it.

By all intents and purposes, Rafael Stone and co. are trying to address that need by the trade deadline.

It seems clear that they’ve been working the phones, at the very least. Lately they’ve been engaged in trade talks with the Chicago Bulls for point guard Coby White.

White is an obvious target on the trade market. White becomes an unrestricted free agent in four months and the Bulls tried to extend him last offseason, but made no such progress, as he turned down an $87 million extension.

They’d rather get something for him than see him walk without getting anything in return.

Except they’ve got a specific asking price.

They’re hoping to land a young, rising talent, who is on the same timeline as Josh Giddey and Matas Buzelis.

Understandable. Buzelis and Giddey are their future.

Pillars. Cornerstones.

Whatever noun you want to use.

They’re also 21-years-old and 23-years-old, respectively.

According to the local boots on the ground in Chicago, the Bulls have “floated” names like Tari Eason and Reed Sheppard in their talks with Houston’s brass.

Which is an obvious no-go. Houston has neither the guard depth nor wing depth to withstand losing either.

Especially not for White.

Again, he’s going to be a free agent in the summer.

But his $12.8 million salary will be impossible to match if the Hawks are set on a young player to that degree. Even those guys don’t make enough individually.

The obvious salary matching would come by way of Dorian Finney-Smith ($12.7 million) or Steven Adams.

(It’s a cold world sometimes, I know. But Adams’ $14.1 million works mathematically).

But again, if we are to believe Chicago wants a young prospect, neither DFS nor Adams would sway them.

And even if the Rockets and Bulls are able to agree on compensation, would Houston realistically be able to afford White long-term? They’ve got looming deals with Eason and Amen Thompson in consecutive years (the latter of which will be far more costly).

White is a good player. But the situation doesn’t quite align, especially considering what Chicago is seeking in return.