The Chicago Bulls were in a perfect spot to wipe the slate clean and kick the tires on a new era. They had the No. 4 and No. 15 pick in one of the most stacked NBA Draft classes in recent years, as well as a new front office and coaching staff.
That's why, after taking a potential franchise superstar in Caleb Wilson at No. 4, they could afford to roll the dice a little bit. Taking Dailyn Swain was a bit of a polarizing decision, but he does check some of the boxes Bryson Graham was looking for.
A streaky scorer who's still a bit raw despite being an older prospect, Swain is one of the most explosive guys in this class. And as a former baseball, soccer, football, and tennis player, the athleticism is most definitely there.
Bulls think outside of the box with Dailyn Swain selection
It's not unusual for teams to take more experienced players. While they're closer to being finished products and thus might have a seemingly lower ceiling, they're also ahead of the learning curve and can make a smoother transition to the pros.
That's not necessarily the case with Swain, though. Despite his experience as a three-year player at Xavier and Texas, he's still a work in progress, and his success at the next level will most likely depend on whether he can ever become a reliable shooter. He also needs to be more active as an off-ball defender, though he can be deadly in passing lanes because of his quick twitch.
Dailyn Swain is an electric driver. He'll get people off their seats every time he takes off in a fast break, and he's also someone who takes pride in creating for his teammates and sharing the rock. Consistency has been an issue here and there, but he has shown the potential to be an outstanding all-around player.
Athleticism doesn't always equate to skill, but Swain is the kind of privileged athlete who makes everything look easy on the court. He's a solid slasher, an emphatic dunker, and an improved isolation player with a knack for drawing contact and getting to the line.
That said, we've seen promising athletes enter the league with high praise and steep expectations just to struggle because they can't shoot to save their lives. This is a make-or-miss league, and he'll find it tough to get -- and stay -- on the hardwood if he can't knock down a shot or two.
The Bulls aced their first pick of the first round; it was a no-brainer. The jury is still out on their second selection on the night, and this has the makings of a true boom-or-bust guy at the next level.
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