Chicago Bulls: Coby White playing himself into deserving contract

At this point, the Chicago Bulls are essentially locked into the NBA’s play-in tournament. They are playoff-bound, for what it’s worth.

Will they go anywhere once they’re in? Who knows, but lately, they look like a team no one will want to play. Depending on the night, the Bulls have the ability to play with anybody. But, they are one of the most inconsistent teams in the league.

Now, on their good nights, the Bulls are usually playing well thanks to a couple of key players. Obviously, Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan are big contributors. But, one of the most underrated players in all of basketball this year has been guard Coby White, who’s playing some of the best basketball of his career.

Finally settling in this season, White has quietly been playing great basketball, and helped the Bulls erase a 23-point lead Sunday night in a win over the Memphis Grizzlies.

In a contract year, Coby White is proving that the Chicago Bulls should, indeed, give him a new deal and keep him around for the long haul

On a team that’s been playing point guard roulette over the past year and a half, White is proving to be a highly-valuable guard. Whether he steps into the one or two spot, he’s been lights out. One area he’s taken it up a notch is in hustle plays. He’s been scrappy on defense and hustles back on the break. Exhibit A:

Specifically, in his last 10 games, White has been posting a line of: 14.2 points, 5.3 assists and 3.5 rebounds while shooting 52.4 percent from the field and a blistering 45.5 percent from beyond the arc.

We have to remember, this is his age-22 season. White is still a very, very young player. He’s continually evolving and figuring out where he stands, not just on the Bulls, but as an NBA player overall.

Being able to facilitate and play better defense has kept him relevant within the Bulls rotation, despite the team adding guys like Lonzo Ball, Aye Dosunmu, Goran Dragic, Patrick Beverley and even rookie Dalen Terry, this year.

The Bulls have had their share of guards over the past two seasons, but White has found a way to keep himself in the game and, now more than ever, has become invaluable to this team.

With Ball out indefinitely and Beverley being just what this team needed, White has looked like quite the asset. He’s proven he should get a new deal after this season, when he’s set to become a free agent.

If the Bulls are smart, they bring him back and don’t allow another team to swoop in to take him away.