Coby White has seemingly been on the trade block since the day he was drafted into the NBA.
While he hadn't been dealt up to this point, it all changed on Wednesday afternoon when he was finally shipped out of Chicago.
Coby White returns home
According to ESPN's Shams Charania, Coby White is returning to his home state. The former Tar Heel has been traded to the Charlotte Hornets as part of a multi-player deal.
Just in: The Chicago Bulls are trading Coby White and Mike Conley Jr. to the Charlotte Hornets for Collin Sexton, Ousmane Dieng and three second-round picks, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/NnHXT5b8lR
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 4, 2026
Here's how the deal breaks down:
Charlotte receives: Coby White, Mike Conley Jr.
Chicago Receives: Collin Sexton, Ousmane Dieng and three second-round picks
A great move for White
The Hornets are coming off a very strong month of January, and although they are currently on the outside looking in for the playoff hunt, they are right in the thick of things.
Charlotte is just a game behind Chicago (who likely will falter a bit given their trade deadline adjustments) and are a game and a half behind the Atlanta Hawks for the No. 9 seed. Basically, there's room for the Hornets, especially if they can keep playing at the level they've shown as of late, to make a push toward the Eastern Conference Playoffs.
White is set to become a free agent after the conclusion of this season, and a lot will be riding on how he performs down the stretch. The former Tar Heel was hampered by injuries early on in the season, but is still a certified bucket-getter, and at 25-years-old, it's likely that he hasn't even reached his full potential just yet.
While his role with his new team might be in question (given the team's back court depth), one thing is for sure: the Hornets hope that White's homecoming is one that works out well for both sides.