Chicago is already buzzing about Caleb Wilson, and Horace Grant sounds like he’s right there with the rest of the city.
The Bulls legend had plenty of praise for the No. 4 pick, calling attention to the edge Wilson showed. Grant was especially taken with what he described as Wilson’s “killer instincts.”
“Oh my goodness, man,” Grant said. “What a beast.
What a freakin’ beast. He has all the intangibles, the skillset.
But what I love about him is that he has the mindset of a killer. A dog.
He goes out and gets it.”
Grant didn’t stop there. He went as far as saying Wilson ranks among the franchise’s best recent draft choices, while making sure to draw a line between Wilson and the Bulls’ all-time icons.
“It’s one of the best draft picks since Derrick Rose. I’m not going to put him with MJ and myself and Pip, but since Derrick Rose, one of the greatest choices the Bulls have made, in my humble opinion.”
Grant, who played for Chicago from 1987 to 1994 and won three titles with the team, pointed to Wilson’s Summer League showing as a major reason for the optimism. Wilson averaged 23.5 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 2.5 blocks per game, then finished by earning a spot on the NBA All-Summer League First Team.
“When you showcase yourself like that, especially in the Summer League, it gives us Bulls fans hope that he will be one of those pieces along with Josh (Giddey) and (Matas) Buzelis,” Grant said. “There are more pieces that we need, but man, what I saw in Vegas, he’s the real deal.”
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What makes the timing interesting is that the path never really lined up the way either side might have wanted. A league-wide hold-up tied to LeBron James pushed a wave of movement back until after Franciscos European contract exit clause had already passed, and he is now set to return to Europe for the 2026-27 season with Panathanaikos. For the Bulls, it leaves behind the familiar offseason question of whether a potentially useful guard was ever a realistic fit, or just one more name that flickered through the rumor mill before the window closed. [Read more 🡒]
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Josh Giddey is one of the players most affected by that shift, because the people who helped shape his place in Chicago are no longer running the show. The front office that committed to him long term has been replaced, and with a new coach and new voices in charge, his spot in the rotation and overall role now feels far less certain than it did earlier in the summer. [Read more 🡒]
Bulls Development Plan Just Sent A Clear Message With This Hire
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The hire comes after Billy Donovan IIIs departure from the job, and it points to Chicago continuing to treat the G League seat as more than just an entry-level position. For a franchise trying to sharpen its developmental track, Pondexters background offers a different kind of leadership for young players looking to bridge the gap between the G League and the NBA, even if the next question is how quickly that vision takes shape in Windy City. [Read more 🡒]