There was a palpable buzz in the Bulls' practice facility on Friday morning. Executive vice president of basketball operations Bryson Graham walked to his press conference table and backdrop for the fourth time since he was tabbed to lead the franchise last month, followed closely behind by draft picks Caleb Wilson and Dailyn Swain.

Chicago has been given a clean slate. Graham's hire marked the change of the team's lead decision-maker. Tiago Splitter joined as the new head coach. And now, Wilson and Swain are expected to lead the rebirth of one of the NBA's most historic franchises.

"Today is a very special day for us as an organization," Graham said. "We get to welcome Caleb Wilson and Dailyn Swain. This draft process was a great one. It fell our way. We got the guys that we targeted and the guys that we feel like are going to help push this organization in the right direction."

As the No. 4 overall pick, Wilson knows there are high expectations for him. He prides himself on those lofty goals, repeatedly saying he's striving to be the greatest basketball player of all time.

That's a bold statement to make in the city that Michael Jordan brought six championships to, but the confidence is necessary for a franchise cornerstone to have. Wilson understands the pressure that he'll face, and the former North Carolina star is ready to embrace that challenge.

"Being a good team has a big part to do with me," Wilson said. "If I want to make something happen, it's me. It's not the front office or anything like that; it's me on the court, making stuff happen. My whole thing is just finding a group of guys that believe in me and are going to let me play, and that's all I really need. This is a great city and a great market. The NBA is better when Chicago is good."

Wilson is less than a month away from his 20th birthday. He's also joining a team that projects to be one of the youngest in the league and knows that someone has to step into the spotlight to lead it. Even though he's just a rookie, Wilson believes he can — and will — meet the moment.

"I feel like we have the things we need to be a great team," Wilson said. "I know I'll step in and be a leader. I'll lead by example and make sure that I get this city to be back where it was. I'm really excited for the opportunity and I feel like we have a great group of guys around us to make it happen."

In a sense, Wilson and Swain are getting in on the ground floor of the Bulls' rebuild. With a new lead exec, new head coach and new young talent coming in, it truly is a new era in Chicago.

The rookies won't have to wait long to get their feet wet. In just two weeks, Wilson and Swain will take the floor in Las Vegas at the NBA Summer League, where they'll play against other rookies, sophomores, young players and veterans jockeying for a roster spot.

Both recent draftees fit the S.L.A.P. profile that Graham emphasized in his introductory presser. They'll look to show off their skills against several of the other top prospects in their draft class.

"I hang my hat on being able to be versatile and do a lot of things," Swain said. "Whatever's asked of me from Coach, especially starting off in Summer League, whether it's being more on the ball, being a wing, playing in transition, whatever is needed. I just envision being on the court and having a Bulls jersey on."

Wilson's first three Summer League games will see him face off against the three players drafted before him: Washington's AJ Dybantsa, Utah's Darryn Peterson and Memphis' Cameron Boozer.

"I'm just a basketball player," Wilson said. "I'm going to do what it takes to win, so getting the rebound, pushing it, creating, initiating transition, making sure I'm a good screener, coming off ball screens, just doing what it takes to be a good basketball player. I try not to box myself into a role, and that's kind of how Tiago envisions it as well."