Three of a kind: Multiple first-rounders add intrigue to Bulls summer slate
A nice touch when the Bulls fly out to Las Vegas to begin summer league play this week would be to reunite their 2016 summer champs.
Yes, it's been 10 years since Jerian Grant and Denzel Valentine led the Bulls to their solitary summer title, and that trophy certainly didn't lead to any regular-season success.
There haven't been a ton of great Las Vegas memories for the Bulls since then, but this year's event should be interesting, at least. The Bulls will be showing off their two first-round picks — Caleb Wilson and Dailyn Swain — while last year's draft pick, Noa Essengue, gets a do-over after missing almost all of his rookie season due to shoulder surgery. And new coach Tiago Splitter plans to be on the bench for the first two games.
“We told the whole team, this is about competing, playing hard,” Splitter said this week at the Advocate Center. “Compete every possession, that's the main thing. Create that mentality. The opponent has got to feel us, and that's how I see this team. We've got to play hard and compete every night.”
The Bulls begin their Vegas slate at 7 p.m. CT Friday against Memphis, which could mean an early look at No. 3 draft pick Cameron Boozer. Next up is Utah on Monday, Washington on July 14, the Lakers on July 16, plus another game or two to be announced.
The summer roster includes the team's two-way signees — shooting guard Jaylin Sellers from Providence and long-armed power forward Tobe Awaka from Arizona. But this summer session is mostly about the three first-rounders, who are a bit undefined at the moment, for the following reasons:
Caleb Wilson: During an injury-shortened season at North Carolina, Wilson was an athletic power forward without much bulk. He didn't shoot many 3-pointers, but he does handle the ball well. So what will he look like in the NBA?
Splitter offered this intriguing description: “The size and athletic ability is special. It's something you don't see very often. My goal for him is just hoop.”
The Bulls already have a tall, athletic forward with guard skills in Matas Buzelis. Wilson doesn't seem to have as varied a skill set as Buzelis, but it's tough to tell right now. Wilson should be able to defend on the perimeter, but where he fits offensively is a question.
“Everybody highlights his athleticism, which is generational, but he can do a lot of things,” Swain said of Wilson. “He's really good facing up at the elbow. He has a really good midrange shot and he's been knocking down 3s. So he's widening his arsenal and he's going to be great.”
Dailyn Swain: The former Texas star measured 6-6½ at the draft combine, and he often played near the basket in college. On Tuesday, Swain talked about being a point guard for this summer squad.
“That's just something I want to be prepared for, but I'm prepared for anything,” he said. “Making the right reads, having my teammates able to trust me with the ball in my hands, making everybody better, hitting guys when they're open. I think that just builds chemistry and makes everybody want to play harder.”
Noa Essengue: On draft night in 2025, the French native was billed as a great defender and sort of a freakish athlete, based more on speed than above-the-rim explosiveness. He's kept growing; the Bulls now list him at 6-11. So here's another player who doesn't fit into an obvious role.
Splitter suggested Essengue can play the three, four or five, “easily.” That means any of the three frontcourt spots.
Ultimately, NBA summer league means very little, but it's a chance for Splitter and the Bulls to get a better look at what they're dealing with, at least. Fitting the pieces together seems less important than creating quality players.
“This is a long run, this is not about this summer league,” Splitter said. “It's how we create habits with young players. We've got to learn how we work every day, how we play.”