The Chicago Bulls made a couple of surprising moves during the 2026 NBA Draft. Taking Daylin Swain was a bit of a shocker, and trading out of the second round was another unexpected move. Drafting Caleb Wilson, however, made all the sense in the world.
Not only was Wilson the best player available at the time they were on the clock, but he may also have been the best player in the class, period. At least, that's how Los Angeles Lakers legend Derek Fisher felt:
“Caleb Wilson could be the best player in the entire [draft],” Fisher said on 104.3 The Score. “He can do everything, man. He can really do everything. Seriously, you could drop him onto any NBA team today, and he’s going to help you win. Period.”
Derek Fisher gives Caleb Wilson his stamp of approval
Some argued that AJ Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson, and Cam Boozer all had a higher floor than Wilson, and that might be a fair assessment. In terms of upside, however, the UNC product should stand on a tier of his own.
Unlike the three players picked ahead of him, Wilson has the physical tools to become an elite defender. He's not quite there yet, and he has to put in the work in that regard, but he's shown flashes on that end of the floor.
Like so many promising rookies, he also needs to work on his jump shoot. That said, he has never needed to rely too much on it, knowing that he can make the most of his otherworldly athleticism and elite body control to get his way in the paint.
Fisher is a five-time NBA champion, former coach, and someone who shared the court with some of the greatest to ever lace them up, so this praise speaks volumes. He's also familiar with competitors like Kobe Bryant, so giving Wilson his stamp of approval certainly means a lot.
Wilson has yet to set foot on an NBA hardwood, but the tape, physical tools, and numbers are more than encouraging. In his lone season in college, he averaged 19.8 points, 8.4 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.5 steals. and 1.4 blocks per game on 57.8 percent from the floor, earning First-Team All-ACC, ACC All-Rookie, and Second Team All-American honors.
His eagerness not only to lead this team back to contention but also to become one of the greatest players in franchise history has to be encouraging. And while there's still a steep road ahead for him, the sky seems to be the limit for the new Bulls star.
| More Bulls News and Rumors |
Add us as a preferred source on Google