Bulls retain Coby White, add Milwaukee's Jevon Carter to backcourt mix

ANDREW SELIGMAN
Updated ·1 min read
FILE - Chicago Bulls guard Coby White (0) drives to the basket against the Los Angeles Lakers during the second half of an NBA basketball game March 26, 2023, in Los Angeles. The Bulls are keeping White and adding perimeter help by agreeing to a deal with Milwaukee Bucks guard Jevon Carter. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez, File)

CHICAGO (AP) — The Chicago Bulls kept guard Coby White and added perimeter help by agreeing to a deal with Milwaukee Bucks guard Jevon Carter on Friday.

White opted to stay in Chicago rather than test the market as a restricted free agent and agreed to a $40 million, three-year contract, agent Ty Sullivan said. Carter is due $20 million over three years, agent Mark Bartelstein said.

White and Carter could help fill a void at point guard. The Bulls do not expect Lonzo Ball to play this season after being sidelined for more than a year because of a left knee injury.

The 23-year-old White averaged 9.7 points while playing 23.4 minutes per game — both career lows. But he boasts a quick first step and the ability to connect from beyond the arc, where he shot 37.2% last season. White, drafted by Chicago with the No. 7 overall pick in 2019, showed improvement in his decision making.

Carter gives the Bulls a tough perimeter defender and outside shooting they sorely lacked. Chicago was last in the NBA in 3-pointers made and attempted. Carter started 39 of the 81 games he played and averaged 8.0 points while making 42.1% of his 3-pointers.

The deals with White and Carter come two days after the Bulls and center Nikola Vucevic agreed Wednesday to a $60 million, three-year extension, keeping the two-time All-Star off the market. Veteran center Andre Drummond also exercised his option to return on Thursday.

The Bulls went 40-42 last season and lost in the play-in tournament.

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