Dailyn Swain’s Summer League debut with the Bulls came with plenty of growing pains, and the rookie forward knows exactly where the trouble started: between his ears.
After Chicago used a second first-round pick on the Texas product, Swain was given a much bigger on-ball workload than he’s used to. The result was a rough stretch in Las Vegas, where his playmaking, ball-handling and shot-making all came under the microscope.
Swain finished the four-game Summer League slate by making just four of 31 shots, a brutal 12.9 percent. He also went two games without hitting a field goal, missed all nine of his attempts from outside the paint and often looked rushed when decisions had to be made quickly.
When he spoke with The Athletic’s Joel Lorenzi, Swain pointed to the mental side of the struggle.
“I think it’s really easy to notice when I’m in my own head and kind of putting pressure on myself. I just try to stick with what I know that works,” Swain told The Athletic's Joel Lorenzi.
“ Obviously having a routine is not gonna save you every game; you’re gonna have bad games. But I just try to stick to what I know and not get too discouraged and not feed into what people are saying in the media and stuff like that.
All my teammates have been nothing but encouraging.”
That kind of self-awareness matters, because the Bulls asked Swain to do more than he’s really built for right now. At 6-foot-8, he made his name as an athletic slasher who did most of his damage off the ball. He can create some offense for himself, but he’s not naturally a lead guard or a primary facilitator.
Chicago’s Summer League roster didn’t exactly make life easier, either. With no true ball-handlers or playmakers in place, the offense often bogged down, and Caleb Wilson ended up carrying a heavy load in plenty of possessions. The whole thing had the feel of Summer League basketball at its messiest.
Still, even with the context, the numbers were hard to ignore. Swain looked overwhelmed at times, and the shot drought was a real concern.
The good news for Chicago is that this shouldn’t be the version of Swain it needs when the games count. Josh Giddey and Tre Jones are in place to handle the playmaking, which should keep Swain from being forced into a role that doesn’t fit him. His job can be much simpler: lean into what already works and build from there.
For a rookie, Summer League is supposed to be the place to stumble, test things out and settle in. Swain’s first run wasn’t pretty, but there’s still time before tip-off.
In Other News...
Dennis Rodman Just Revived A Wild Michael Jordan Bulls Story
Dennis Rodman turned a Fanatics Fest appearance into another reminder that the Bulls dynasty came with plenty of drama behind the scenes. The Hall of Fame forward said he never wore Michael Jordans signature shoes during their time together in Chicago, adding another layer to the odd mix of rivalry and chemistry that defined that roster even as it piled up wins and titles.
Rodman also revisited the kind of off-court chaos that made him one of the leagues most unpredictable stars, including a missed game during the Bulls 72-10 season because of gambling and partying. He has a way of turning every anecdote into a bigger conversation, and this latest round was no different, with his comments about money, fame and who he could have guarded keeping Bulls fans talking long after the event ended. [Read more 🡒]
Bulls Face A Bigger Nic Claxton Question Than Fans Expected
Nic Claxtons arrival in Chicago was made official July 10, and it adds a familiar face to a Bulls frontcourt that is still taking shape. Tiago Splitter already knows him from their time together with the Nets, which gives this move a layer of comfort beyond the usual roster shuffle. Claxton spent the first seven seasons of his career in Brooklyn, and the Bulls are clearly looking for more than just another big body in the middle.
The bigger question is what Chicago is really getting now, not what Claxton once was. His shot-blocking and rebounding have trended down even as his passing has become more prominent, which suggests a player whose value has shifted in ways that matter to how he fits here. For the Bulls, the appeal may be as much about what he brings to the locker room and the broader culture as what shows up in the box score, especially with his role expected to carry weight beyond the floor. [Read more 🡒]
Bulls Final Roster Decision Could Shape Their Next Big Opportunity
The Bulls have spent much of the 2026 offseason reshaping the roster, adding Nic Claxton, Caleb Wilson, Dailyn Swain, Norman Powell and Zach Collins while leaving one opening and an unused mid-level exception on the table. With the rotation mostly set, the front office appears to be treating that flexibility as more than just leftover cap space, especially after the market thinned and some of the more appealing free-agent options came off it.
Chicagos bigger play may be to stay patient and keep a spot available for the right trade rather than force another signing now. The idea is simple enough: preserve room to take on a contract other teams want to move, then turn that into future draft capital when the right deal surfaces, whether it comes before the deadline or later in the season. [Read more 🡒]