Mavericks trade proposal brings Kobe White to deal with Bulls

In anticipation of the 2025-26 season Dallas Mavericks‘ main pain point was the starting position of the fullback. Kyrie Irving continues to recover from a torn ACLand it is not entirely clear when he will return after such a serious injury. Furthermore, the Mavs traded Luka Doncic, leaving them with uninspiring options at the position.

The The Mavericks left no stone unturned in their quest to address their needs in one, and they relied on a host of players, including Brandon Williams, Ryan Nembhard and D’Angelo Russell, just to have a functional starting unit. They even called on rookie Cooper Flagg to take over the point guard role to start his career, and while that bodes well for his development, it quickly became apparent that he’s not a natural at the position.

So no surprises at all to see The Mavericks are emerging as a potential trade destination for Chicago Bulls guard Coby White. White, who is making $12.8 million in the final year of his contract, appears likely to be dealt, with ClutchPoints NBA insider Brett Siegel reporting that “the Bulls continue to field a number of teams interested” in the 25-year-old guard.

The Mavericks will face stiff competition, as White’s team-friendly deal makes him a fairly easy trade target to pursue. Marc Stein also fueled the trade rumors further by reporting that Bulls are “eager to make a move by capitalizing on some of their expiring contracts” — including White.

To that end, here’s an offer the Mavericks need to reach out to the Bulls in search of a quality starting point guard that fits their time frame.

The Mavericks have an option at point guard, the Bulls welcome back a familiar face

Mavericks get: Coby White

Bulls gain: Daniel Gafford2030 PHI second round pick

The Mavericks don’t have much in the way of a future draft, as they have been ultra-aggressive in putting together a competitive roster around Doncic. This gambit of theirs worked; bringing in PJ Washington and Daniel Gafford he gave them enough defensive juice to make a deep playoff run that resulted in an appearance in the NBA Finals, losing to the Boston Celtics in five games.

But now that Doncic is gone, the Mavericks no longer have a driver who can make the most of their roster, which is loaded with high-level players. They need more self-sufficient creators and playmakers, especially amid Irving’s absence, and bringing in White gives them a level of assured production at a level none of their current options at the position provide.

The The Mavericks can swing like Caleb Martin and Jaden Hardy to the Bulls in exchange for White, but it doesn’t make sense for Chicago to plug their cap by adding two fringe players who are under multi-year deals.

They’d be better off clearing cap space for a potential big free agent pursuit, and keeping White would be more beneficial overall, especially when they’re tasked with fighting for a spot in the tournament.

This is why the Mavericks will hang with Daniel Gafford instead. Gafford has been involved in trade rumors over the past year, which makes sense given that Dallas, at full strength, has little slack in the frontcourt. The 27-year-old center thrived when playing alongside Doncic, but his numbers have dipped this season and he’s rarely been healthy — a red flag for the Bulls.

But Bulls must know that they have to build a better defensive identity. Head coach Billy Donovan has even admitted in the past that Isaac Okoro is their only player currently on the defensive tackle roster. And given that Chicago has several talented playmakers on the roster, the best of which is Josh Giddy, it’s likely that Gafford will thrive in the Windy City with the team that drafted him back in 2019.

Nikola Vucevic is also an upcoming free agent, and it’s not entirely clear whether the Bulls would want to extend their partnership with the Montenegrin giants from last season. Vucevic will be 36 years old next season, and there is always a chance that older players will want a chance to compete for a ring. He won’t get that opportunity with the Bulls next season, that’s for sure.

Gafford is under contract for a a total of about 54.3 million dollars over the next three seasons, he should at least make it easier for the Bulls when it comes to the center positions. He’s also a fearsome rim protector when healthy, and his presence should give Chicago a foundation as they strengthen their defensive identity.

This trade then kills two birds with one stone for the Mavericks, converting a position of strength to address a position of weakness. While White may be headed for free agency, they should at least have the ability to re-sign him to a reasonable contract, giving them an insurance policy while Irving slowly works his way back from his torn ACL.

Playmaking is not the best part of white’s game. His result is. But, much like Irving, the sheer defensive attention he commands allows him to make life easier for his teammates. The scoring and shooting wing’s value on the defensive end may be lower than ever, but the Mavericks know how tough life is without one such player on the roster — making White a valuable addition.

Their frontcourt depth should continue to be solid moving forward, with Anthony Davis, Derek Lively II, Washington and Flagg all capable of filling minutes at the four and five (Lively should be strictly a five, but they remain more positionally versatile).

The Mavericks also send a second-round pick to the Bulls in this deal as a sweetener given how injured Gafford has been this season. Gafford played in just 30 games this season, and his scoring dropped quite a bit, requiring a bit more compensation for the Bulls to be completely confident in taking on his contract.