The Oklahoma City Thunder selected point guard Bennett Stirtz at No. 16 overall in the 2026 NBA Draft—just one pick after the Chicago Bulls took Dailyn Swain. Though the Bulls remain optimistic about the player Swain could become, Stirtz is already making it fair to second guess if they made the right pick.
While Swain could prove to be an excellent addition to a rotation that needs a two-way wing, Stirtz is the point guard who could've transformed Chicago's offense.
It's only the preseason, which is a phrase that's both stated ad nauseam and necessary to continue to use. Stirtz has, however, been turning heads since Summer League, and he's now looking the part of an NBA-caliber guard during the preseason.
Against a Pelicans team that played no less than 10 NBA rotation players, Stirtz put up 15 points, six assists, and five rebounds on 6-of-9 shooting from the field and a 3-of-6 mark from beyond the arc.
Thunder rookie Bennett Stirtz 15 PTS (6-9 FG, 3-6 3P), 6 AST, 5 REB vs. Pelicans https://t.co/TunHyIGDZr pic.twitter.com/RBg6NBtHcn
— Role Player Performances (@BenchHighlights) October 7, 2026
In the process, Stirtz showcased the same type of skill set that the Bulls are going to need from a guard in 2026-27 and beyond.
Bennett Stirtz shows out in preseason debut for Thunder
Those who watched Stirtz in college are unlikely to be surprised by his preseason success. He played a demanding high-volume role for the Iowa Hawkeyes as a scorer and playmaker, and showcased both tremendous court vision and elite shooting range.
Stirtz ultimately concluded his two-year collegiate career with averages of 19.5 points, 5.0 assists, 3.4 rebounds, 1.7 steals, and 2.2 three-point field goals made on .487/.372/.820 shooting.
Stirtz is picking up where he left off as both a three-point shooter and playmaker. He's working more without the ball, which he would've done alongside the trio of Matas Buzelis, Josh Giddey, and Caleb Wilson in Chicago.
Stirtz is also creating for Oklahoma City's big men, which offers even more reason to believe he could've fit with the Bulls considering the offense may soon run through Wilson, a power forward.
Yes, there are question marks about how Stirtz would've fit in an offense that will conceivably be run by Giddey. Chicago needs another guard who can space the floor and create for others, however, and Stirtz has the tools to do exactly that.
If Stirtz becomes a respectable NBA defender and lives up to his offensive potential, then the Bulls will likely be stuck wishing they'd made a different pick at No. 15—unless Swain proves otherwise.
Will Dailyn Swain prove to be a better pick than Bennett Stirtz?
Assuming Giddey is a piece of the long-term puzzle, the Swain pick could make sense. Chicago has an athletic wing with two-way potential in Buzelis and a power forward who looks the part of a three-level scorer and all-around two-way player in Wilson. As such, they'll need a two-way spacer to join them.
Swain has the potential to be that type of player as a 6'7" wing with a 6'10" wingspan and a jump shot that improved across each of his three college seasons.
Swain buried four threes on 15.4 percent shooting as a freshman, seven on 25.0 percent shooting as a sophomore, and then 32 on 34.4 percent shooting as a junior. During that time, he simultaneously looked the part of a productive help defender who could make plays in the passing lanes and even block shots.
Swain was also a tremendous offensive rebounder at 1.7 per game as a wing, as well as creative shot creator and steadily improved playmaker.
Perhaps that will all add up to Swain outplaying Stirtz at the NBA level—or at least proving to be a better fit in Chicago. One simply can't help but notice how the player drafted directly before the Bulls' pick is already playing well for Oklahoma City.
It's too soon to say the Bulls made a mistake, but Stirtz versus Swain could be a debate that persists in the years to come.
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