The Chicago Bulls appear to have struck gold with their No. 4 overall pick. But would it be best for Wilson's development for him to come off the bench to start the year?
Most Chicago Bulls fans and analysts seem to believe that rookie No. 4 overall pick Caleb Wilson is a shoo-in to start at the power forward position this winter. Talent-wise, he certainly projects to be one of the five best players on the roster, if not the best, very early on in his career.
But could it be in Wilson's best interest to begin his NBA career by coming off the bench?
As things currently stand, Josh Giddey and Norman Powell appear locked into the Bulls' starting backcourt spots. Barring anything unforeseen, offseason trade acquisition Nic Claxton will be the starting center and Matas Buzelis will claim one of the starting forward positions. By moving Buzelis to the '3', Wilson would be able to easily slot in at the '4'.
The Bulls will open their season on the road against the Toronto Raptors, which will feature a vicious wing/forward tandem of Kawhi Leonard and Scottie Barnes. Wilson is expected to be a high-motor player who will be ready to compete at the NBA level from the second he steps onto the floor, but it may be more beneficial to initially offset him from the starters — and Leonard and Barnes — and allow him to gain his footing in the league.
Questions about whether Wilson would be a "project" because of his shooting were quickly quelled when he erupted for 35 points on 7-of-11 shooting from deep during the Las Vegas Summer League. Following that opening game, though, Wilson shot just 6-of-20 on three-point shots and 46.8% on all attempts. As talented as he is, Wilson is not a finished product yet.
Feb 10, 2026; Coral Gables, Florida, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels forward Caleb Wilson (8) dunks against the Miami Hurricanes during the second half at Watsco Center. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images Making Wilson come off the bench and moving Jalen Smith to the starting lineup — at least to start the year — could be optimal for several reasons. It would allow Wilson to compete against the Raptors' second unit and build confidence in his first real NBA action. Putting Smith alongside a center proved to be very productive last season, and he likely will pair better with Claxton than Zach Collins. Smith is coming off a career year, and another good statistical season could result in the Bulls receiving a better trade package for him at the midseason deadline.
The idea of moving Wilson to the bench may seem ludicrous, but there is precedent for a top draft pick to do so. Just last year, No. 2 overall pick Dylan Harper was the Spurs' sixth man for all but four regular season games, allowing him to take his lumps early before shining come playoff time. No. 4 overall pick Kon Knueppel came off the bench in his second game for the Hornets before proving himself as an essential member of the starting lineup. The prior No. 4 pick, Stephon Castle, wasn't a starter until his eighth game and went on to win Rookie of the Year in 2025.
Nothing states that Wilson has to come off the bench for a very long time, but Bulls fans should warm up to the idea of the 20-year-old getting his bearings by sitting for the first few minutes of his opening game.
Then again, it will all depend on Tiago Splitter and his staff's plan for the promising rookie. If Wilson immediately clicks with Giddey and Buzelis during training camp and the preseason, there should be no reason not to have him grow alongside the young duo by playing at the same time as them.
