The Chicago Bulls clearly had some ideas on how to use Dailyn Swain when they made him the 15th overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, one of which would give them some huge mismatches to exploit — literally. The 6-foot-7 Swain will play point guard in summer league, according to head coach Tiago Splitter.
The 20-year-old Texas product is undoubtedly a unique player. His size — 6-foot-7, 215 pounds with a 6-10 wingspan — is prototypical for an NBA wing. His skill set, though, is more often found in combo guards who can play on or off the ball. His weakness as a shooter only makes this blend of talents even more uncommon.
But Splitter has a plan, and it could open up a host of tantalizing options for the Bulls this season.
Bulls plan to use Dailyn Swain as a point guard in summer league
Swain isn't a 3-and-D wing because he can't space the floor, although he's big enough to be a wing defender. That same lack of an outside shot prevents him from being a guard in the mold of a Coby White. And he's not quite big enough to play a ton of minutes at the four.
Could he be quick enough and skilled enough to actually play point guard, though? We're about to find out, as Splitter explained in a pre-summer league press conference via CHGO Sports.
"He's a great passer, a great ball-handler for his size and he can create for others, get to the paint easily. His handles are tight so, you know, a guy we can put at the point if we want, you know, as a tall point guard out there and [to] kind of lead the offense."
Even if he doesn't work as a prototypical floor general, the Bulls seem to visualize Swain's future as more of a guard than a wing or forward.
How would a bigger version of White — maybe one that can't shoot as well but is a step up defensively — function in the NBA? Perhaps more importantly at the moment, how would it work with this Bulls roster?
It's an exciting thought experiment.
Playing Swain at guard could unleash Bulls' most dominant lineups
If Splitter's idea bleeds into the regular season, he could run out a five-man group consisting of a pair of 6-foot-7 guards in Swain and Josh Giddey, a 6-foot-10 swingman in Matas Buzelis, an explosive 6-10 forward in Caleb Wilson and a 6-foot-11 rim protector in Nic Claxton.
The Bulls signed veteran guard Norman Powell in free agency to act as a scorer and floor spacer. They brought back 6-foot-10 center Zach Collins. Last year's lottery pick, Noa Essengue, has reportedly grown to 6-foot-11 and is healthy again.
Swain's unique ability to play as a guard in a wing's body could be a skeleton key that unlocks the rest of the Bulls' roster. And they already seem to know it.
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