Coby White has added motivation to return swiftly from a calf injury that’s plagued him this season, Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times writes. White is scheduled to be an unrestricted free agent this offseason and will be looking to build on two straight extremely successful seasons this coming year.
Cowley writes that early indications are that both the Bulls and White are interested in getting a deal done to keep him in Chicago this summer. Both sides are expected to proceed with caution when it comes to White’s return.
With White sidelined in their preseason opener on Tuesday, Kevin Huerter took the bulk of his minutes and started in his stead. If White is to miss any regular season time, Huerter would be the prime candidate to play more.
We have more from the Central Division:
After missing all but five games last season due to an Achilles injury, Pacers center Isaiah Jackson seems to have the inside track to the starting center role, Dustin Dopirak of IndyStar writes. Dopirak writes about Jackson’s recovery and conditioning process. “*I can use my weight,” Jackson said. “I was always physical but I couldn’t move guys how I wanted to. I couldn’t play my brand of basketball. I’d get up to the offensive rim and I’d have to go straight up. Now I can bump people and move people out the way and I don’t really affected by it. Strength wise, I can play defense a little better. I can hold my own.*“
The tandem of Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley has proven to be effective, but Chris Mannix of Sports Illustrated speculates that Allen could be a name to watch at the deadline depending on how Cleveland begins the season. According to Mannix, most evaluators see Mobley as a full-time center, so while the price for Allen would be high, it’s not out of the realm of possibility that the Cavaliers field calls if the beginning of the season is lackluster.
De’Andre Hunter had the most successful season of his career in 2024/25 across stints with the Hawks and Cavaliers. He built on that success and looked poised to take another step forward in Cleveland’s preseason opener, recording 17 points and seven rebounds. In a subscriber-only piece, Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com explores what’s in store for Hunter’s upcoming season. Hunter finished fourth in Sixth Player of the Year voting last year after averaging a career-high 17.0 points.