The Chicago Bulls secured the future of the franchise on Tuesday night, selecting forward Caleb Wilson out of North Carolina at fourth overall in the 2026 NBA Draft.
For most players, that statement might feel like hyperbole. But Wilson has the potential to be one of the foremost two-way stars in the entire NBA. Assuming he can fill out his frame and continue to polish his offensive game, the Bulls may have just landed themselves the player that could help accelerate their path back to relevancy.
In the short-term, though, Chicago has also secured most of its starting lineup for 2026-27. After adding Wilson and trading for Nic Claxton this week, the only position not currently filled is their two-guard spot next to Josh Giddey. For a team that entered the offseason with almost no established structure, this is a major step forward.
If you look closely, though, that projected starting lineup leaves no room for last year's first-round pick: Noa Essengue.
While the Bulls' selection of Wilson may make it more difficult in the long-term for Essengue to carve out a major role, his relegation to the bench in the short-term is the best possible thing for the young forward— it immediately lifts an unnecessary burden off of his shoulders.
Noa Essengue now has the time and space he needs to develop behind Caleb Wilson
Wilson will take time to develop as well. But his athletic skill-set is so formidable that, on a team that's not yet trying to compete, there's no reason not to hand him the keys.
Essengue is not even remotely in the same situation. Apart from the fact that he missed almost his entire rookie season with a shoulder injury, Essengue came into his draft with concerns about his size and physicality. He measured 6'10" and just 203 lbs at the NBA Scouting Combine, and although that matches relatively closely with Wilson's measurements, Essengue has a measure less of the raw power and scrappiness around the rim that defines Wilson's game.
If the Bulls had tossed Essengue into a major role immediately, it wouldn't have looked pretty.
Perhaps Chicago could've swallowed that fact given their rebuilding intentions. But Wilson's presence buys Essengue ample time to build his strength and acclimate to the NBA before he'll be asked to step into more minutes.
The Bulls' hiring of Tiago Splitter shouldn't be ignored, either. Splitter has experience coaching in Europe, having spent the 2024-25 season with Paris Basketball and leading the team to a EuroLeague playoff berth. Essengue spent two seasons with Ratiopharm Ulm before coming to the NBA. That's a connection that, once forged, could help Essengue figure out how to translate his game to the next level.
While the stage isn't set for an immediate breakout for Essengue, therefore, the groundwork has been laid for the Bulls to slow-play his development. It's the best possible thing that they could give the young forward.
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