Bulls latest trade sends White to Charlotte for two players

The Bulls got back to the business of cleaning house without accomplishing much Wednesday.

They sent Coby White back to his home state of North Carolina to play for the improving Charlotte Hornets, according to ESPN's Shams Charania. Newly acquired Mike Conley Jr. also went to Charlotte.

White played his final game for the Bulls on Tuesday in Milwaukee. Before the game he talked about wanting to stay in Chicago but obviously knew a trade was likely.

“I love my teammates,” White said in Milwaukee. “At the end of the day, the front office is going to do what they think is best for the team, and I want this team to do nothing but succeed.”

In return the Bulls got a couple of former lottery picks and three second-round draft choices. Joining the Bulls is Collin Sexton, a different version of White, chosen one pick after the Bulls selected Wendell Carter Jr. at No. 7 in the 2018 NBA Draft. The Bulls also receive forward Ousmane Dieng.

Sexton had a promising start with Cleveland, averaging 24.3 points in the 2020-21 season. Eventually, he went to Utah with Lauri Markkanen in the trade that brought Donovan Mitchell to the Cavs.

Sexton averaged 18.4 points for the Jazz last season, then was traded to Charlotte, where his minutes dropped. He averaged 14.2 points and 3.7 assists for the Hornets this year, mostly off the bench. Sexton has an expiring contract.

The 6-foot-9 Dieng, 22, was the No. 11 overall pick in the 2022 draft. He's spent four years in Oklahoma City and hasn't played much. His career highs of 4.9 points and 2.7 rebounds came as a rookie.

At least he gives the Bulls some size, which they need badly, and maybe there's some upside.

White had some nice moments during his seven seasons with the Bulls, averaging a career-best 20.4 points last season. It seemed possible he could take another step and become an all-star caliber guard. But he's been hampered all season with a calf strain and never really found a rhythm. He also never took off as a 3-point shooter, knocking down 34.6% of his attempts this year, to go with 18.6 points a game.

To recap the Bulls trade deadline so far, they've added three 6-foot-3 combo guards — Sexton, Jaden Ivey and Anfernee Simons — plus Dieng, who played a very minor role with the Thunder, and four second-round picks. They sent away White, Nikola Vucevic and Kevin Huerter.

Five years ago, Bulls vice president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas gave up a pair of second-round picks for Vucevic. Now, the Bulls couldn't land any first-rounders when they moved White and Vucevic.

The NBA trade deadline strikes at 2 p.m. Thursday, so there's still time for more deals.