The Chicago Bulls wrapped up their preseason on Friday night with a win over the Minnesota Timberwolves. Throughout the preseason, new head coach Tiago Splitter got a chance to see what he had with this roster and how he could utilize different players.

Veterans like Norman Powell and Buddy Hield showcased how their shooting ability could change Chicago's offense. Young players like Leonard Miller had a chance to fight their way into the rotation. Two-way players like Tobe Awaka, Jaylin Sellers and Jordan Hawkins got opportunities to prove their value to the Bulls.

All of that was encouraging, but what most Bulls fans were probably most curious about was how Caleb Wilson would perform in his first real taste of NBA action.

It's safe to say Wilson flashed his potential in bunches, even if there were some growing pains along the way.

First, let's take a look at the raw numbers.

Wilson averaged 15.8 points, 4.4 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 0.6 blocks and 0.6 steals in 26.2 minutes per game across five preseason contests. He shot 44.1% from the field and 31% from three.

Pretty impressive stuff from a rookie getting his first taste of NBA basketball.

But the numbers only tell part of the story. What matters more is how Wilson managed to produce them and what his performances revealed about the player he could eventually become.

While it was an up-and-down preseason for Chicago and Wilson, there was certainly a lot of good on display.

Wilson's competitiveness and willingness to take on a significant role in the Bulls' offense were evident from the opening game. The rookie operated with the ball in his hands more than anticipated and showed an ability to create his own offense against NBA defenders.

He found his way into the midrange for jumpers, finished at the rim with authority and proved he wasn't afraid to shoot the three when defenders gave him space.

Off the ball, Wilson showcased his high basketball IQ by filling lanes in transition, cutting toward the basket and making himself available when teammates found themselves in trouble.

The biggest concern with his scoring was his shot selection. Wilson often settled for difficult midrange jumpers when he couldn't get all the way to the basket. His ball handling remains a work in progress, particularly when facing quicker defenders who can cut off his driving lanes.

As his handle improves, his shot selection should follow. Getting to his preferred spots more consistently will allow him to generate easier looks rather than relying on contested jumpers.

Still, the scoring potential was obvious, and his willingness to shoot from beyond the arc was particularly encouraging.

Wilson's passing was one of the more underrated aspects of his game coming out of the draft, and while it wasn't always pretty this preseason, you could see why.

The rookie has a natural feel for delivering passes to the dunker spot and finding teammates around the basket. His ability to recognize cutters and make quick interior passes gives Chicago another offensive weapon beyond his scoring.

However, Wilson also struggled to recognize defenders lurking in passing lanes, resulting in some unnecessary turnovers.

It's not college anymore. The athletes are better, gaps close quicker and the window to make the right decision is significantly smaller.

Wilson occasionally tried to force passes that might have worked at North Carolina but simply aren't available against NBA defenders.

As he becomes more comfortable reading NBA defenses and adjusting to the speed of the game, those turnovers should become less frequent. The passing instincts are already there. Now it's about learning when and how to use them.

Wilson's rebounding was a little disappointing, especially considering how productive he was on the glass at North Carolina.

Rebounding is usually one of the more translatable skills for athletic forwards entering the NBA, but Wilson was relatively average in that department throughout much of the preseason.

He showed improvement in the finale against Minnesota, finishing with seven rebounds, but the Bulls will need that level of activity more consistently.

Wilson has the physical tools to become an impactful rebounder. His combination of length, athleticism and energy should allow him to contribute on both ends of the floor.

If he wants to maximize his impact for Chicago, his rebounding will need to look more like what Bulls fans saw from him in college.

Defensively, Wilson has the tools to become a star long-term, but he still has a long way to go.

At North Carolina, Wilson was a stock machine, using his athleticism to jump passing lanes and block shots from the weak side. However, his defensive awareness was questioned throughout the draft process, with scouts noting his tendency to ball-watch and abandon his assignment while hunting blocks.

Those concerns proved legitimate during the preseason.

Wilson struggled defending on the perimeter, frequently getting beaten off the dribble by quicker guards. He also found himself watching the ball rather than tracking his assignment, leading to missed rotations and breakdowns in defensive communication.

His defensive counting stats weren't particularly impressive either, averaging just 0.6 steals and 0.6 blocks per game.

There were certainly flashes of the defensive player Wilson could become, but his overall impact on that end was somewhat disappointing.

The good news is that many of these issues are correctable. Wilson doesn't lack the physical tools or effort to become a great defender. What he needs is experience, discipline and a better understanding of NBA defensive schemes.

It's up to Splitter and the Bulls coaching staff to help him develop those instincts and learn how to use his athletic gifts without sacrificing his defensive responsibilities.

Wilson's preseason performance warrants a B- when compared to expectations coming out of the draft.

That's not to say he played poorly or that Bulls fans should be disappointed with his production. Wilson showed exactly why Chicago was so intrigued by his potential in the first place.

His ability to create offense was encouraging, his passing instincts were impressive and his willingness to shoot from three suggests that his development as a perimeter scorer is very real, even if the percentages aren't there yet.

On the other hand, the turnovers were concerning, his rebounding fell short of expectations and his defensive awareness needs significant improvement.

But perhaps the biggest takeaway from Wilson's preseason is that the Bulls already seem comfortable giving him opportunities to make mistakes.

Splitter allowed the rookie to handle the ball, create his own offense and work through difficult matchups rather than limiting him to a smaller role. That's exactly the kind of experience Wilson needs at this stage of his career.

There will undoubtedly be nights during the regular season when his jumper isn't falling, his turnovers pile up or his defensive mistakes become frustrating. That's part of developing a young player with this much responsibility.

The important thing is that Wilson has already shown he belongs on an NBA floor. Now comes the harder part: turning those flashes of potential into consistent production.

Wilson doesn't need to be a finished product in October. He just needs to be a better player in April. If his preseason was any indication, Bulls fans have plenty of reasons to be excited about what comes next.