The Chicago Bulls have two things to start building their new roster: The No. 4 pick and a new approach. New lead executive Bryson Graham claimed that the team wanted to add some SLAP, an acronym standing for Speed, Length, Athleticism, and Physicality.
That would be four words most people would use to describe UNC star PF Caleb Wilson. Oddly enough, he might be right there in the Bulls' range when they're on the clock in the June 23 NBA Draft.
Notably, that's not the only coincidence that might tie him to the Windy City. He also happens to be an athletic, two-way freak out of the University of North Carolina, just like the legendary Michael Jordan decades ago. That's why he wanted to let everyone know that he would love to follow in No. 23's steps in Chicago.
Caleb Wilson endears himself to the Bulls with Jordan references
“I know a lot about Chicago. I know Mike went here from North Carolina. I watched The Last Dance, so I got a little bit of history on Chicago. The city is a great place for sure," Wilson told Sports Illustrated.
Notably, this isn't the first time that Wilson has used his college ties to flirt with the Bulls. Right after the NBA Draft Combine, the talented forward used another reference from The Last Dance to get Bryson Graham's attention:
"I always find something to make it personal, honestly. Just like Michael Jordan. I try my best to find something to piss me off," Wilson told ESPN. "It’s hard for me to be friends with someone off the court and then try to be competitive on the court. I just can’t do it.”
Wilson looks like a building block for years to come. He plays a fearless and violent game on both sides of the floor, and his 'SLAP' makes him perhaps the most intriguing defensive prospect in this class as a guy who may be able to guard one through five.
He has plenty of work to do with his shot, and bulking up a bit wouldn't hurt. However, he might still grow into his nearly seven-foot frame, giving the Bulls a massive and incredibly athletic frontcourt alongside Matas Buzelis and Noa Essengue.
Of course, he's not going to enter the league as highly decorated as Michael Jordan, and expecting him to do anything close to what Black Jesus achieved is nothing but wishful thinking. However, while he won't be the first high draft pick from UNC to join the Bulls, he might as well be the second-best one once it's all said and done.
He's a perfect description of what the Bulls are looking for, and he'll be more than welcome if he can bring the same maniac-like competitive drive that turned this organization into the best in the world in the Jordan days.
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