Continuing to seek backcourt reinforcement! Timberwolves inquire about Kobe White, expected to pursue Bulls' rising star in a 3-for-1 deal

On December 12th Beijing time, as reported by Joe Cowley from the Chicago Sun-Times, the Timberwolves remain interested in bolstering their backcourt and have reached out regarding a possible trade involving Bulls guard Kobe White.

Although nearly two months remain until the February 6 trade deadline, Cowley learned from sources that the Timberwolves are eager to finalize a deal soon to add another ball-handler to the team; if possible, they prefer to advance the timing of the trade. Conversely, the Bulls, despite starting with a perfect 5-0 record but then suffering an 18-14 slump including a seven-game losing streak, currently seem reluctant to make any aggressive moves.

For most of the past two seasons, Mike Conley has been the Timberwolves’ full-time starting point guard. However, this offseason, the 38-year-old was moved to the bench, with DiVincenzo taking over the starting PG role. Since Conley is well past his prime and DiVincenzo isn’t a traditional pure point guard, while 2024 lottery pick Durenham is not yet ready to take on major responsibilities, the Timberwolves have effectively placed Edwards in a “pseudo point guard” role, urgently needing to find him a reliable partner.

Kobe White is also not a pure point guard but is a highly talented scorer and playmaker. Last season, he averaged 20.4 points and 4.5 assists per game, shooting 45.3% from the field, 37.0% from three, and 90.2% from the free-throw line. However, in the 2025-26 season so far, White has played only seven games, mainly due to a calf strain delaying his season debut.

White’s salary this season is $12.9 million, and his contract is nearing expiration. Although he currently qualifies for an early extension, it is expected he will not re-sign with the Bulls before hitting free agency—since league rules limit the Bulls to offering a maximum four-year deal worth about $87 million. The 25-year-old guard likely believes that if he performs well in his contract year, he can secure a more lucrative offer on the open market.

Cowley pointed out that the Timberwolves might propose a package including DiVincenzo (earning $12 million), second-year guard Terrence Shannon Jr. (earning $2.7 million), and a draft pick to acquire Kobe White.K.C. Johnson of Chicago Sports Network recently mentioned in a video report that both players could be part of a potential trade package for White, adding that the Bulls had shown strong interest in local player Shannon even before the 2024 draft.

Johnson also noted that the Bulls are currently in a “wait-and-see” mode and might only seriously engage in trade talks closer to the deadline. However, it’s important to highlight that the Timberwolves do not currently hold a first-round pick available for trade, so if the Bulls want draft compensation in a White trade, the Timberwolves can only offer second-round picks and/or pick swap rights.

Since the start of the new season, the Timberwolves have been linked to trade rumors involving several guards.Just a few weeks ago, reports indicated that they were among the teams inquiring about Grizzlies star Morant.However, comparatively, a player like White, whose salary falls within the mid-level exception range, might be a better fit for the Timberwolves’ acquisition strategy—since this aligns better with the matching salary assets they can offer. To acquire a max-salary player like Morant, the Timberwolves would likely need to trade away one of Randle, Gobert, McDaniels, or Reed.