Rockets rescued from Fred VanVleet dilemma by an unlikely hero

The Houston Rockets have been searching for answers at point guard since Fred VanVleet was diagnosed with a torn ACL on Sep. 22. Reed Sheppard has been a revelation during his second season, but most agree that Houston is in need of depth in the backcourt as it pushes for its first title since 1995.

Thankfully, the Chicago Bulls have become unlikely potential allies as they shop not just one, but two of their most productive guards: Ayo Dosunmu and Coby White.

Dosunmu and White would've been ideal targets for the Rockets to consider regardless of how the Bulls opted to proceed. Doors are suddenly swinging wide open, however, as Chicago explores the market for two talented players on expiring contracts.

According to Marc Stein of The Stein Line, the Bulls are giving executives around the NBA the impression that they're more open than ever to the possibility of trading White.

"Doesn't mean they'll actually move him before the Feb. 5 trade deadline, but the Bulls have left the impression with rival teams inquiring about Coby White that they are more open to trading White than they've ever been."

As though that weren't enough to stoke the flames, Sam Vecenie of The Athletic compiled an NBA Trade Board consisting of players whom "league sources are watching intently for multiple reasons as serious trade candidates."

With both Dosunmu and White on the list, it's safe for the Rockets to assume that their calls will be answered by the Bulls' front office.

Bulls guards Ayo Dosunmu, Coby White both surface in trade rumors

Dosunmu, 25, is in the final season of a three-year, $21 million contract that's paying him $7,518,518 in 2025-26. White, who's also 25, is playing the last campaign on his three-year, $36 million deal that's giving him $12,888,889 in 2025-26.

Both players will become unrestricted free agents this coming summer and are expected to secure significant pay raises once that inevitability comes to pass.

That's a likely driving force behind the Bulls attempting to see what they can get for two of their top players on the open market. Rather than losing whomever they don't intend to re-sign for nothing, they're looking to get something back.

Thankfully, the Rockets have the combination of talented young players and draft assets that the Bulls will likely covet in a potential deal. The question is: Who should they target?

Ayo Dosunmu and Coby White would elevate Rockets in different ways

White is a proven scorer and playmaker who has averaged 19.8 points, 4.8 assists, 4.1 rebounds, 0.8 steals, and 2.7 three-point field goals made on .450/.368/.862 shooting over the past three seasons. Beyond the numbers, he's a three-level scoring threat who can convert with regularity at all three levels.

By acquiring White, the Rockets would instantly address the lack of consistency in regard to shooting and shot creation in the backcourt while testing his fit before having to commit long term.

Dosunmu is less prolific as a scorer, but may actually be the perfect fit. He's a plus defender who ranks in the 95th percentile in ball screen navigation, the 85th percentile in off-ball chaser defense, and the 55th percentile in perimeter isolation defense.

Dosunmu also ranks in the 82nd percentile in one on one shotmaking, is shooting 49.4 percent on drives, and has buried 45.2 percent of his catch-and-shoot threes in 2025-26.

Regardless of which player Houston potentially adds, the bottom line is that talent is available on the open market. Whether that ultimately manifest in the form of a Bulls guard nearing unrestricted free agency or another player entirely, the Rockets finally have a way out of their lack of backcourt depth.

It may have come from an unlikely source, but Houston has finally found a hero to save them from a VanVleet dilemma they've still yet to truly resolve.