It took Caleb Wilson two games to prove he is the real deal

The Chicago Bulls finally embraced the rebuild this year, leaning into the youth movement, aided by their two selections in the first round. Obviously, landing the fourth-overall pick was a boon, but making the right decision there was more important. And it looks like the Bulls have certainly done that with Caleb Wilson.

To be fair, it was an obvious decision. Wilson was the consensus fourth-best prospect in the draft. Chicago may not deserve too much credit for the selection, but teams have certainly made worse mistakes in the draft before.

The Bulls' decision looks even better after two Summer League games. Wilson has been one of the best players in Las Vegas, taking the competition by storm.

Wilson made his presence felt in the Summer League in his impressive debut, where he had 35 points, five rebounds, two steals, and three blocks on 12/21 shooting from the field, including seven threes. On Monday, he followed it up with another all-around performance, adding eight rebounds, two assists, two steals, and five blocks to go with his 19 points in 29 minutes.

Continuing his hot streak, Wilson hit three threes. Between two games, he is 10/19 from downtown. Given how his outside shot was considered a weakness before the draft, this is as encouraging as it gets.

Interestingly enough, Wilson is 2/12 from the free-throw line in these games, including a 0/6 on Monday. Considering the new free-throw rule change that has players shoot one FT for two or three points, this meant that Wilson could have had a much higher point total. He was fouled twice on three-point attempts, so if he had made those two free throws, he could have finished with 25 points.

Caleb Wilson could end up as the best player of his draft class

Wilson also had the highlight of the game, and possibly the Summer League, in the fourth quarter. Dunking all over the Utah Jazz defense, Wilson showcased his explosive athleticism. Perhaps as encouraging as the dunk was the ease with which Wilson beat his defender on the perimeter.

During his 62 minutes of action in Las Vegas, Wilson has looked every bit of a future star. This isn't to say that he hasn't had his share of lowlights, but this is exactly what you want to see from your lottery pick in his first Summer League.

The Bulls' rookie plays with a chip on his shoulder. Feeling slighted for not being considered among the top prospects of the draft class, Wilson clearly took it personally against Cam Boozer and the Grizzlies in his Summer League debut. This has to be his attitude in the NBA, and if it is, the Bulls may even end up with the best player in the draft.

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