The Bulls got a much rougher first look at Dailyn Swain than they probably expected in Las Vegas.
While Caleb Wilson came out of Summer League looking like the breakout star of the class - 23.5 points, 7.3 rebounds, 2.5 blocks per game and a 41.9 percent mark from deep - Swain’s debut run went the other direction fast. He appeared in four games and managed just 4.3 points per contest, shooting 12.9 percent from the field. He finished with only three made field goals, and none of his nine three-point attempts found the net.
That kind of line naturally raises eyebrows, especially for a player who arrived with a reputation as a worthwhile Top 15 prospect. Swain’s appeal at Texas came from his two-way value and his efficient isolation scoring, but neither trait showed up consistently in Las Vegas.
The swingman looked like he was processing everything a beat too slowly, and the pace clearly rattled him. He wasn’t overwhelmed physically, but he kept running into the same problems: overthinking possessions, struggling to finish through contact, and seeing shots blocked at the rim.
For a three-year college player coming off a breakout season, the showing was hard to ignore. Swain should have had some advantages over Summer League competition, yet he never really looked like the same confident scorer who made him such an interesting draft name. That doesn’t mean the alarm bells should be blaring just yet, but it does explain why the early returns felt disappointing.
There were always skeptics on Swain’s profile. He didn’t bring much value off the ball, and his scoring burst came later than most prospects.
The lack of a reliable long-range shot also made it tougher to picture exactly how he’d settle in at the next level. Summer League didn’t answer those questions in a flattering way, and it only sharpened the conversation about what his first NBA season might look like.
That’s where the Bulls’ usage of him matters. Head coach Tiago Splitter leaned on Swain immediately, even putting him in the role of primary facilitator in Game 1 and part of Game 2.
Swain handled plenty of ball responsibility at Texas, but this version of him looks much better suited to secondary playmaking than running the offense full time. At times, you could almost see him working through every decision in real time.
Splitter may have wanted to test that area before training camp, and that makes sense. But it also puts a spotlight on how carefully Chicago has to handle him early. Pushing too much too soon could make the adjustment harder than it needs to be.
The Bulls also had those Bennedict Mathurin rumors hanging around, which only added another layer to the discussion about Swain’s fit. The similarities on paper are obvious enough, and it would be strange to imagine both players on the floor together.
Still, four Summer League games are four Summer League games. Swain deserves more time before anyone stamps his rookie year with a verdict.
He was getting to the rim, he showed downhill pressure, and the raw tools that made him appealing are still there. The challenge now is making those tools work against NBA defenses.
If anything, this stretch should function as a lesson. Swain learned what the speed and spacing of the league will demand from him. The Bulls, in turn, got a clearer picture of how not to overload him before he’s ready.
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