The Chicago Bulls made the easy call at No. 4 in the 2026 NBA Draft when they took North Carolina forward Caleb Wilson. The pick at No.
15, Texas swingman Dailyn Swain, was the one that turned heads. And if the early read proves right, Swain could end up shaping Chicago’s rookie class more than the higher selection.
That sounds backward on the surface. Wilson is one of the best prospects in a draft class described as historically loaded, and even a quick glance at his highlights shows why: he’s a hyper-elite athlete and a violent finisher.
Swain doesn’t jump off the screen in the same way. His game is quieter, built on power, control and a broader set of skills.
But rookie seasons are often about who can help first, not who has the loudest ceiling. Swain may be the more polished player right now, and that could matter more in year one than Wilson’s explosive style.
At 6-foot-7 and 215 pounds with a 6-foot-10 wingspan, Swain checks the boxes Bulls executive VP of basketball operations Bryson Graham likes in the SLAP archetype: size, length, athleticism and physicality. He uses all of it to overwhelm defenders.
The 20-year-old can handle the ball better than you’d expect for his frame, attack off the dribble and finish at the rim. He draws a ton of free throws, creates looks for teammates as a driver and can function on either side of a pick-and-roll.
He also brings defensive versatility. Swain can guard at least three positions, and he has the ability to push the ball in transition or sprint the floor and cut hard to the basket.
The one clear hole in his game is the jumper. Swain shot just 34.4 percent from three last season with the Longhorns, though his 0.9 made threes per game in 2025-26 was the best mark of his three-year college run.
Even with that limitation, the All-SEC selection does enough in every other area to make an early case for minutes under head coach Tiago Splitter. That should start in summer league, where Splitter will be on the sideline for the Bulls’ first few games in Las Vegas.
Wilson will have his own path and should contribute as well. He fits Graham’s SLAP mold too, and he has the kind of talent that could make him the face of the franchise down the line. But Swain’s all-around game gives him a real chance to get on the floor quickly, stay there in different lineup combinations and make a meaningful rookie impact.
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Dillingham, 21, arrived in Chicago last season with plenty of pedigree, but his path now looks narrower than ever unless he can separate himself in other ways. The Bulls are already leaning on Josh Giddey and Tre Jones at point guard, and the message around Dillingham is clear enough: he will need to defend better and make the most of the minutes he gets. In a backcourt that keeps adding creators, the margin for error is shrinking fast. [Read more 🡒]
Upper Deck Just Turned Jordans Bulls Legacy Into A New Chase
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The company is also rolling out a buyback program built around sealed 1986-87 Fleer Basketball packs, and one of the most intriguing pieces in the release is a unique Rookie Pack among the Jordan-signed inventory. There is also a charity angle in the mix through an auction with eBay, which gives the announcement a broader reach beyond the collector market and keeps the focus on just how enduring Jordans Bulls-era appeal remains. [Read more 🡒]