After a busy offseason, the new-look Chicago Bulls continue to make moves. They added Buddy Hield just before the start of training camp, trading for another proven veteran to address their apparent shooting woes.
While that shows that Thiago Splitter didn't join the team just to tank, the fan base shouldn't lose sight of what's really at stake here. Yes, winning is everything, but this time, it might not be at the top of the priority list.
This time, the team's success — or lack thereof — cannot be measured solely by wins and losses or whether they make the Play-In Tournament. It shouldn't even be measured by whether they get a top draft pick. This time, Caleb Wilson is all that matters.
Caleb Wilson's development can change everything for the Bulls
The Bulls have had some great players in the post-Michael Jordan era, but it has been a long time since expectations has been this high for a prospect. Wilson might be the most-hyped Bull since Derrick Rose, which is no minor thing.
Notably, the North Carolina product has embraced that challenge. He played with a massive chip on his shoulder in the Summer League, and even though he dominated lesser competition, he clearly made a point of working on some of his flaws— three-point shooting, defensive intensity, and ball-handling.
Wilson has the physical tools to be one of the most dominant two-way players in the league almost right out of the gate. He's got the wingspan to be a switching nightmare in the perimeter and around the rim, and he plays with the ferocity and aggressiveness of an actual bull.
That's why, even though the Bulls have Norman Powell and Buddy Hield, they didn't make those additions just for the sake of winning. They've added veterans specifically suited to complement Wilson's game and — hopefully — mentor and teach him the ropes.
Adding a former fan favorite and gritty defender like Taj Gibson to the coaching staff should also work wonders for him. And the second one of the veterans gets too fancy and takes too many shots away from him, that's the moment Bryson Graham must pull the trigger and send them packing.
The Bulls can go 10-72 and still have a good season if Wilson isn't the same player by game 82 as he was in game 1. Everything in the building should gravitate around his orbit; the Bulls just can't afford to drop the ball with a talent like him.
Of course, everyone's got the same record now, and this doesn't mean the Bulls shouldn't compete hard and try to win as many games as possible. If anything, he's made it loud and clear that he's there to raise the standard, and all the losing can take a toll on a player's development and growth.
But regardless of how this team fares this season, it will all be worth it if Caleb Wilson proves to be as good as advertised. This fan base has been through a lot, and they can definitely use another savior right now.
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