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The Chicago Bulls got their wish on draft night. Coming in with the seventh overall pick and seemingly set on adding a young and promising point guard in the draft, the team's front office understood that they would not get the chance to select either Ja Morant (selected second by the Memphis Grizzlies) or Darius Garland (picked fifth by the Cleveland Cavaliers) — two prospects who are widely considered as the best point guards in this draft class.
The Bulls decided to jump on the best available point guard on the board, as they snagged Coby White at the No. 7 spot. The 19-year-old freshman coming out of the University of North Carolina appears to be an excellent fit in Chicago's system, and looks like the perfect addition to the team's roster entering the new season.
A Jack of All Trades
Perhaps what makes White stand out the most is his versatility. In his single season for North Carolina last year, White averaged 16.1 points (on 42.3 percent shooting), 2.3 3-pointers, 3.5 rebounds, 4.1 assists, and 1.1 steals in 28.5 minutes per contest. While he does not necessarily excel in one specific facet of the game, his all-around ability should still make him a useful weapon for the Bulls.
Size
At 6-foot-5, White is a good fit for an NBA combo guard. He's relatively taller than the average point guard in the league, which will definitely give him an advantage on both ends of the court. At this point, White still needs some work on his defense, but he certainly has the physical tools to excel in this particular department in the future.
Buckets
One thing you cannot fault White on is his scoring ability. He is a potent scorer who can stretch the floor with his 3-point shot, though he did just struggle mightily in Summer League (3-of-30). He has a nice mid-range game and can score at the rim, making him a legitimate triple-threat weapon on the offensive end. White possesses a scorer's mentality, and he has the right amount of confidence to go and look for his own shot.
White's speed and quickness, combined with his above-average handles, should allow him to get to the basket with relative ease. His offensive acumen will warrant at least some attention from the defense of opposing teams, thereby opening up the floor more for other guys on his squad. White is also an excellent passer, so if and when the defense clamps down on him, he should be able to find the open man for the assist.
The Future
What Chicago has in White is a point guard of their future. The Bulls used their seventh overall pick on him, which means they have placed him in very high regard. Kris Dunn or Tomas Satoransky will likely get the nod at the starting point guard spot to start the season, but it would not be surprising if White overtakes them in the pecking order sooner rather than later.
It is also worth noting that Dunn is entering the final year of his current deal with the Bulls, so the addition of White makes the Bulls more flexible in this regard. As a matter of fact, the team might even consider turning Dunn's expiring deal into a potential trade asset, thereby clearing the way even more for White to develop into a crucial member of Chicago's young core.
Again, it is worth noting that unlike some other lottery picks from this year's draft, what White lacks is a certain type of specialization. He does not do one specific thing extremely well, but on the flip side, he also happens to be one of the most well-rounded guys in his class.
Moreover, White is just 19 years of age and still has a lifetime of basketball ahead of him. He can certainly develop his game and become one of the league's best scoring guards in the future. He may also become a top-tier floor general and end up as a premier playmaker in the league.
What's important is White possesses the potential and the tools to develop into a star. He also does seem to have the right type of attitude, so as long as he is able to surround himself with the right type of people, the sky is definitely the limit for this very young and very promising prospect.
