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Introducing Caleb Wilson: Get to know Bulls' likely selection with No. 4 pick

Chicago may finally have the high-upside forward its rebuild has been missing.
Rich Barnes-Imagn Images

The Chicago Bulls may have the easiest decision on draft day, at least with their first pick in the first round. Armed with the No. 4 pick in a draft widely considered to have a three-player Tier 1 and one-player Tier 2, the Bulls will almost certainly end up drafting Caleb Wilson out of North Carolina.

There could certainly be surprises at the top. A team may reach for Wilson in the top three, or the Bulls may receive a trade offer they can't refuse for their fourth-overall pick, but both of these scenarios seem unlikely.

Plus, drafting Wilson is as no-brainer a draft decision as there can be. Not only is he going to be the best prospect available at No. 4, but he is also a perfect fit on the new-look Bulls.

But who is Wilson and what makes him an ideal selection for Chicago?

Caleb Wilson is the high-upside prospect the Bulls lacked for years

Wilson suffered two separate hand injuries in his lone season at UNC, which cut his campaign short, limiting him to 24 games. This prevented him from playing against elite competition in tournament play, but he was able to produce a ton of intriguing tape in the games he played in.

If you watch thirty seconds of Wilson highlights, one thing will immediately stand out. His athleticism jumps off the screen right away.

Looking at him, he clearly looks like a modern NBA forward. He has the physical tools to be an elite, versatile NBA power forward who can guard multiple positions. His 6-foot-10 frame and seven-foot wingspan are not just theoretical. He applies these tools and makes his presence felt every second he is on the court.

Wilson's two-way impact for UNC was undeniable. The combination of his size and mobility made him a defensive game-changer as a rim protector and disruptor. He had 1.5 steals and 1.4 blocks per game, and there is very little reason he shouldn't be a plus defender in the NBA right away.

Offensively, he is more of a transition player and a play finisher rather than a shot creator. But he showed flashes of high-level mid-range shooting all season and should develop into a decent jump shooter.

There are obvious areas of improvement like ball-handling, playmaking, and three-point shooting. Certain parts of his game are raw, and it might take him a couple of years to turn into a high-end starter.

The good thing is that the Bulls can be patient. Having just kick-started a rebuild, the Bulls are a couple of seasons away from being a relevant, competitive team. They can give all the developmental reps to Wilson and let him come along slowly.

With the addition of Wilson, the Bulls will have the forward trio of Matas Buzelis, Noa Essengue, and Wilson. This has the chance to be a very modern forward rotation of rangy and versatile players. Chicago would have to add more perimeter creation and shooting around this group, but Wilson and Buzelis give the Bulls the upside they have lacked for years.

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