Summer League isn't about wins and losses.

It's about identifying building blocks, evaluating development and discovering who deserves a larger opportunity when training camp arrives. For the Chicago Bulls, Las Vegas provided a little bit of everything.

The Bulls saw encouraging performances from their newest franchise cornerstone, flashes of what first-year head coach Tiago Splitter wants this team to become and unexpected contributions from players fighting to earn an NBA opportunity. At the same time, a pair of first-round picks reminded everyone that development is rarely a straight line.

Here are the four biggest takeaways from Chicago's week in Las Vegas.

If there was one player whose stock skyrocketed during Summer League, it was Caleb Wilson.

Wilson didn't simply put up impressive numbers, he controlled games.

Whether he was attacking the rim in transition, knocking down jumpers, defending multiple positions or igniting fast breaks with steals, Wilson looked comfortable as the focal point of Chicago's offense. His standout performance came in a 35-point explosion that showcased the complete offensive package Bulls fans have been waiting to see.

What stood out most wasn't the scoring or the numbers behind it, but how he scored.

Wilson rarely forced shots. He played within the flow of the offense, consistently made the right read and displayed the versatility that made him one of the most coveted prospects in the 2026 NBA Draft. At 6-foot-9 with elite athleticism and defensive instincts, he already looks capable of impacting games in several different ways.

Just as encouraging was his competitiveness. Every loose ball, defensive possession and transition opportunity seemed to matter to him. For a rebuilding team searching for players who can establish a new culture, those traits are just as valuable as scoring.

Summer League is far from a guarantee of NBA success, but Wilson looked every bit like a player capable of becoming one of the faces of the Bulls' next era.

Although Summer League doesn't count in the standings, it marked an important milestone for Chicago.

For the first time, Bulls fans got to watch Tiago Splitter coach a team wearing “Chicago” across its chest.

Splitter inherited one of the league's youngest rosters and immediately emphasized the principles that made him an attractive coaching hire: pace, ball movement, defensive communication and unselfish basketball.

The results weren't always perfect, and they weren't expected to be.

Summer League rosters are constantly changing, chemistry develops on the fly and players are often learning offensive and defensive schemes for the first time. Yet Chicago consistently played with energy, competed defensively and shared the basketball.

Perhaps the most encouraging sign was Splitter's willingness to let young players learn through mistakes instead of coaching every possession with immediate results in mind. That developmental mindset could prove invaluable as the Bulls continue building around one of the NBA's youngest cores.

His first official regular-season game is still months away, but Summer League offered an encouraging preview of the culture he hopes to establish.

Not every lottery or first-round pick dominates Summer League.

Sometimes, the biggest lesson is learning how much work still lies ahead.

Dailyn Swain entered Las Vegas with plenty of intrigue after being selected No. 15 overall. While his athleticism, size and defensive versatility flashed throughout the week, his offensive game remained inconsistent. He struggled to find a consistent shooting rhythm, occasionally forced difficult looks and is still adjusting to the speed and physicality of professional basketball.

Those growing pains were expected.

Swain has never been viewed as a finished offensive product, and Summer League reinforced that much of his development will come through repetition and experience.

Noa Essengue experienced similar challenges.

The former lottery pick showed flashes of why the Bulls remain excited about his long-term potential, particularly with his length, mobility and defensive versatility. However, his offensive confidence never fully developed in Las Vegas. Finishing through contact, creating his own shot and making quick decisions with the ball all remain areas for growth.

Neither performance should significantly alter expectations.

In fact, both players likely benefited from struggling. Summer League exposes weaknesses in a way practices simply can't, giving coaches a clearer roadmap for player development before training camp begins.

The talent is certainly there. Now comes the process of refining it.

Every Summer League features one or two unexpected standouts.

For the Bulls, Donovan Atwell and Jaylin Sellers made compelling cases that they deserve continued opportunities within the organization.

Atwell quickly established himself as one of Chicago's most reliable perimeter shooters. His confidence never wavered, and his ability to stretch the floor provided valuable spacing for the offense. In today's NBA, elite shooting creates opportunities, and Atwell consistently capitalized on his chances.

Sellers' progression throughout the week may have been even more impressive.

Rather than fading after a slow start, he steadily improved with each game. He attacked the basket with confidence, created offense off the dribble and showed the scoring versatility that made him a standout at the collegiate level.

Players like Atwell and Sellers are exactly why Summer League matters.

Not every contributor arrives as a lottery pick. Organizations that consistently uncover overlooked talent gain valuable depth, and Chicago may have found two players worth continuing to invest in.

Whether that leads to training camp invites, two-way contracts or significant time with the Windy City Bulls, both players left Las Vegas with considerably more momentum than when they arrived.

The Bulls didn't leave Las Vegas with all the answers or as the 2026 Summer League champions.

They did, however, leave with reasons to believe.

Caleb Wilson looked capable of becoming the centerpiece of Chicago's rebuild. Tiago Splitter offered an early glimpse into the identity he wants his team to embrace. Donovan Atwell and Jaylin Sellers turned heads by making the most of every opportunity.

Meanwhile, Dailyn Swain and Noa Essengue reminded everyone that player development isn't measured over four Summer League games.

For a franchise focused on building for the future, that's perhaps the most important takeaway of all. Summer League isn't about who is ready today, but rather, it's about identifying who can help Chicago win tomorrow.