The Chicago Bulls' efforts in the 2026 NBA Draft aren't to be taken lightly.
Their jump, via the Draft Lottery, to fourth overall was an immediate boost to the organization's rebuilding efforts. Combine that selection, of power forward Caleb Wilson, with their selection of Dailyn Swain at 15th overall, and you're left with a powerful combination of young talent. If both of those players can take strides during their rookie campaigns, there will be ample room for optimisim about the Bulls' future.
But Chicago also took a sizable gamble when they traded out of both of their second-round picks. They first traded the 38th overall pick to the Indiana Pacers in exchange for guard Kam Jones, who was waived just days later by the organization. They then traded the 56th overall pick to the Los Angeles Lakers for cash considerations.
For a team in need of young talent, this seems like a bit of an odd move. But it's clear Bryson Graham preferred to use the roster spots and the additional money on NBA-ready players, instead opting to use their two-way spots on a pair of undrafted prospects— Tobe Awaka and Jaylin Sellers.
Sellers, particularly, is a volume 3-point shooter and an archetypal wing, although his college-level production leaves questions about his ability to translate to the NBA. While we know what Awaka can likely provide, Sellers has an opportunity in Summer League to justify this gamble— at least in the short-term.
Jaylin Sellers will be a major player to watch in Summer League for the Bulls
Awaka was one of the best rebounders in this year's draft class, but his lack of true size for the center position and his lack of an offensive package for a power forward role will hamper his transition to the NBA. It's unlikely that Awaka shows much in Summer League outside of what we already know— that he's a formidable rebounder and defender.
But with Sellers, there's much more room prove he was worth the gamble.
Last season at Providence, Sellers averaged 18.3 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 1.6 assists while shooting 42.9% from beyond the arc across 33 games. He won the Big East scoring title as a senior, and his mix of perimeter shooting and big-bodied defensive ability are the hallmarks of what any team looks for in a developmental wing.
But if Sellers is going to earn playing time in his rookie campaign, he's going to need to stay hot from beyond the arc. While the NBA court often provides better spacing than the college game, Sellers will need to learn to attack closeouts against better defenders and relocate off the ball in order to create opportunities for himself, especially when he's no longer the focal point of the offense.
There are also lingering concerns about his playmaking and ability to read the court— both of which can be assuaged by a strong showing in Summer League.
While Swain and free agent signing Norman Powell will take the bulk of the Bulls' minutes at shooting guard, Sellers has a real chance to cement himself as a rotational figure in 2026-27. Granted, Chicago doesn't need Sellers to be an immediately impactful player to justify their second-round gamble. That would be an unrealistic standard to set for an undrafted prospect.
But they do need him to prove he can translate his perimeter shooting to the next level. Sellers, more than any player on the Bulls' Summer League roster, has a chance to raise his stock with a set of strong performances, and he can immediately help calm Bulls' fans concerns about their pair of draft-night trades.
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