Given their position at fourth overall in the upcoming 2026 NBA Draft, the Chicago Bulls' choice is largely out of their hands.
But the most likely scenario remains that all three of AJ Dybantsa, Cameron Boozer, and Darryn Peterson come off the board first, leaving Caleb Wilson out of North Carolina to fall right into their laps. This would be a massive victory. Wilson has perhaps the highest ceiling in the draft. If he can put together his mix of physical tools and athleticism into a consistent two-way game at the NBA level, he would be the perfect fit for Bryson Graham's distinct, defense-focused vision.
But Wilson is not without his doubters. Critics will point to his lack of strength, his lanky frame, and his lack of offensive polish as concerning features for a player taken inside of the top-four.
He certainly has his advocates, though, and defensive legend Draymond Green has been among the loudest and most consistent. Most recently, speaking on his podcast, "The Draymond Green Show", Green directly compared Wilson to legendary power forward Kevin Garnett.
"I think [with] Caleb Wilson, now obviously you've got to do the work, and he isn’t going to walk in like [Garnett], but the type of talent he is, barring that he goes to do the work, I actually think his floor is Kevin Garnett... And man, if that’s your floor, oh my god. Do you know how great KG was? I actually think with Caleb Wilson, Kevin Garnett could be his floor. That’s how special I think Caleb Wilson is."- Draymond Green
Caleb Wilson's ceiling is sky-high, even if Draymond Green's claims might be a little boisterous
As stated, Green has been one of Wilson's most consistent supporters throughout this entire draft process. At the end of the season, he made the case for the 6'9" forward to be the number one overall pick, surpassing Dybantsa, Boozer, and Peterson by sheer athletic potential alone.
Green's argument centers around the fact that Wilson, despite his impressive production at the college level, is largely still an unpolished player. He can be clumsy at times, and his movement can look awkward even when he's swatting a shot attempt on the defensive end or finishing a monstrous dunk on offense. Green firmly believes that he will fill into his frame, and when he does, he will be one of the NBA's most formidable two-way players.
If we're accepting that projection as realistic, that's where the comparison to Garnett comes in.
Garnett was one of the most dominant fours in NBA history on both ends of the floor. During his 2003-04 MVP campaign, KG averaged 24.2 points, 13.9 rebounds, and five assists while shooting 49.9% from the floor.
Physically, it's easy to see the similarities between Wilson and Garnett. When Garnett entered the NBA Draft, he measured 6'11" and 217 lbs. Wilson, by comparison, measured at 6'9.25" and 210 lbs at the NBA Combine in May. Both had formidable defensive and rebounding skill-sets, and both had looming concerns about their offensive polish.
The biggest difference is that Garnett was able to survive in his era without a consistently viable 3-point shot— he made just 27.5% of his attempts from beyond the arc throughout his career. Wilson, meanwhile, shot just 25.9% during his lone season at North Carolina.
While Green's claims sit very close to the edge of hyperbole, that level of confidence from one of the NBA's greatest defenders has to hold some degree of weight.
Even if Wilson doesn't develop into Garnett, though, Bulls fans should be ecstatic if they ultimately land him at fourth overall.
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