When the Chicago Bulls eventually enter 2026-27, all eyes will be on their rookie selections— Caleb Wilson and Dailyn Swain.
Even with the additions of Nic Claxton and Norman Powell this offseason, that's the natural shape that a rebuild takes. Fans will closely watch every development (and every failure) from the newest members of the team's young core.
Caleb Wilson has already captured fans' hearts with his series of scorching Summer League performances. Most bought in when he sank seven 3-pointers in his debut. But Swain struggled mightily— averaging just 4.2 points and shooting an abysmal 12.9% from the field across his four appearances.
Especially with the pressure of a fully-minted rebuild laid on Swain's shoulders, an underwhelming rookie season might feel like a disaster for Chicago. But as the roster continues to take shape, it seems like Swain's opportunities and production might be limited no matter what.
We're still a long way off from panic mode, though.
Don't panic if Dailyn Swain's rookie season is ultimately underwhelming
Swain's performance (or lack thereof) in Summer League was, in many ways, understandable. Chicago was asking him to take on an on-ball role that was largely unfamiliar to him from his time in college, and he was clearly in his head about his ability to get downhill and finish at the rim. You can likely expect him to operate at a greater efficiency once we reach regular season action.
But the fact of the matter with Swain is that he was always going to be developmental swing— not an immediately impactful piece at the NBA level. He averaged 17.3 points and shot 54.2% from the field at Texas, but he was always an inconsistent jump shooter and was often hesitant to pull the trigger in the halfcourt.
He's fast and impactful in transition, but he has a ton of development to do in terms of his confidence with the ball in his hands and even his ability to impact the game as an off-ball perimeter scorer.
Currently, Chicago's starting backcourt will feature Josh Giddey and Powell, while Tre Jones, Rob Dillingham, Isaac Okoro, Swain, and Jaylin Sellers will come off the bench.
Jones will likely function as the sixth man for this team, and he'll have a long runway in terms of his ability to lead the bench unit. Dillingham is entering the penultimate season of his rookie contract, and Chicago will need to determine if there's a long-term future for him in the organization. Even Isaac Okoro could take on a large bulk of the minutes on the wing that might otherwise go to Swain.
The Bulls need to give Swain room to develop this season. That doesn't mean he needs to play more than 20 minutes a night, though.
Swain's production will naturally be limited during his rookie campaign, and that's alright. The second and third seasons of his rookie contract is where he'll truly start to be evaluated. For 2026-27, patience will be the key.
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