Can the No. 4 overall draft pick provide a spark to the Bulls in his rookie year?
The Chicago Bulls will look quite different when Josh Giddey returns to the court this fall.
Giddey experienced a career-best year in 2025-26, despite battling organizational instability and various injuries. Now healthy after undergoing arthroscopic right ankle surgery earlier this offseason, the 23-year-old point guard will look to lead a very young group that features several new faces.
Most notable is Caleb Wilson, the No. 4 overall pick in this summer's NBA Draft after a stellar All-American season at North Carolina. Wilson has been compared to Hall of Famer Kevin Garnett and Miami Heat star Giannis Antetokounmpo when they entered the league, and the expectations for the 20-year-old forward could not be higher in Chicago.
At 6-foot-10 and 215 pounds, Wilson possesses a unique blend of length and athleticism that should excite his new teammates. Giddey has already had the chance to team up with Wilson on the court, as the duo worked out together in Miami last week.
"There’s been a lot of change, but he’s obviously going to be a really important piece to what we’re doing here," Giddey said in an interview with DJ Siddiqi for Casino.com. "Very high draft pick, so there’s going to be a lot of pressure and noise around him, but he’s a good kid. He’s going to fit in with this group, and I’m excited to see how he helps us this year and moving forward."
Jun 23, 2026; New York, NY, USA; NBA commissioner Adam Silver greets the fourth pick in the 2026 NBA draft, North Carolina forward Caleb Wilson after he was selected by the Chicago Bulls at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images Giddey is already familiar with Matas Buzelis as a lob threat, and the Australian point guard will have the opportunity to throw some alley oops to Wilson as well this winter. Wilson garnered a reputation as a high-flying superstar with the Tar Heels and showcased a surprisingly accurate three-point shot during the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas.
He's also a menace on the defensive end of the floor, where the Bulls desperately need someone to set the tone. Wilson averaged 1.5 steals and 1.4 blocks per game for North Carolina last season, then recorded 10 blocks and five steals in four Summer League games.
Giddey is excited about Wilson's ability to guard multiple positions, rebound, run the floor and get downhill.
"He doesn’t have a lot of weaknesses in his game," Giddey said. "He’s a young guy in the league. There’ll be learning curves for him, but he comes in with a pretty well-rounded game and [is] someone that can impact the floor at a high level on both ends."
Last season, Giddey averaged a career-high 9.1 assists per game, in addition to 17.0 points and 8.3 rebounds. He helped lead an offense that ranked third in the NBA in pace and assisted on 67.2% of baskets, the seventh-highest rate in the league.
Wilson isn't the only Bulls newcomer that Giddey will need to connect with. No. 15 overall pick Dailyn Swain — a 6-foot-7 wing — is expected to receive plenty of on-ball reps and is similarly sized to Giddey. All-Star free agent signing Norman Powell is a 40% three-point shooter for his career and will likely be Giddey's backcourt running mate. Center Nic Claxton provides a paint presence on both ends of the floor. Noa Essengue also returns after missing most of his rookie season due to injury.
