The Chicago Bulls can hang their hats with confidence after a consequential NBA Draft in which they got so much. Of course, they got what they asked for with North Carolina forward Caleb Wilson as the No.4 pick. Wilson is on the cusp of being a generational talent.
They got a two-way unselfish player in Dailyn Swain out of Texas as the No.15 pick. Despite some questions about trading Purdue’s Braden Smith to the Indiana Pacers for guard Kam Jones, cash considerations, and second-round picks, the Bulls came out of the Draft in good standing.
A major reason for that is the VP of Basketball Operations, Bryson Graham.
Since Chicago hired him in May, Graham has been emphatically diligent about rebuilding from the ground up. His SLAP (Size, Length, Athleticism, and Physicality) acronym has become his trademark philosophy in assessing talent, per Andre Bass Jr. of Roundtable Sports.
Certainly, Wilson possesses those attributes to the T. He has plenty of size at 6-foot-10. Wilson has much length. He is extremely athletic and locks it down in the paint with physical presence.
Before the Draft, Wilson filled in a big slot with the hiring of Tiago Splitter as the head coach. Splitter had come off leading the Portland Trail Blazers to an improbable run into the postseason. His emphasis on development, quickness, adaptability, and spacing aligns with the needs of a Bulls roster that needs all four.
A total contrast to what has been a sluggish era for one of the most marketable franchises in the NBA. An ownership and managerial class stuck in the past is now turning a corner.
Suffice it to say, the Bulls are already making headwaves before playing a game. It’s been said before in many circles that it starts at the top. If that’s the case, then Bryson Graham deserves credit.
But there’s much more to come.
Bryson Graham has much in store to work with
Now it needs to be established right from the jump that the Bulls are far and away from being a playoff team. They still need to work out a few kinks to get into that position.
Chicago has a solid young core in Josh Giddey, Matas Buzelis, Jalen Smith, Tre Jones, and Issac Okoro. With Wilson and Swain in the mix, that only adds depth. Wilson certainly allows for Giddey and Buzelis to up the ante in their respective games in terms of athleticism and transition game.
Just imagine seeing Wilson lobbing it to Buzelis for the dunk or vice versa.
From a financial standpoint, the Bulls have money to spend, contrary to popular belief. They have $54 million in salary-cap space, the most out of any NBA team. Money that will likely be used to absorb bad contracts and access future draft picks.
Chicago recently acquired center Nic Claxton in a three-way trade with the Minnesota Timberwolves and Brooklyn Nets. Claxton plays with greater aggressiveness and rim protection, which have been lagging in the paint for quite some time.
They picked up a $2.4 million team option for Leonard Miller on Saturday. Miller had a productive 27-game stint after being traded by Minnesota. He, along with his fellow Minnesota-turned-Chicago teammate Rob Dillingham, makes up a sparkling secondary unit that can score, rebound, defend, and excel in catch-and-shoot situations.
Goes to show what playing more minutes can do for young talent waiting in the wings.
All this is to say that Bryson Graham should be feeling confident about what lies ahead for the 2026-27 season.
It will be a grind, but one worth enduring.
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