The Chicago Bulls are entering a new era. The Bryson Graham era. He has taken over the front office and will be hoping to leave behind a better legacy than Arturas Karnisovas did. But as soon as he began his tenure, he handed over the “era” title to someone else. Caleb Wilson. This has the chance to be the Wilson era, and he will help define how Graham handles it.
Wilson looked great in Summer League. And when the Bulls drafted him, they undoubtedly drafted a guy they hope could be the future centerpiece of the organization. But how long will they have to wait to get to that point? If Wilson shows out right away, Graham can expedite the rebuild process. If not, he can take his time and try to get more assets.
The way Graham handles the next few years in Chicago largely depends on Wilson and how well he plays right away.
Caleb Wilson's talent will guide Bryson Graham
As noted, Wilson’s Summer League performance was very, very impressive. He looked like the type of player who could not only dominate on defense, but thrive on offense as well.
That’s what the Bulls need from him. They need a two-way force. In an ideal world, they need a 1A. The type of guy who would be the best player on a championship-level basketball team.
Obviously, they aren’t going to get that right away. No rookie is ready for that responsibility. But Wilson should be one of the best first-year players in the league next year.
How well can he play right away? Will he struggle to adapt to the NBA? Will he blossom into a budding star? Can he make an unexpected push to make the All-Star Team in Year 1?
Depending on what Wilson is able to show on the court, Graham will have to adapt his team-building philosophy. Because right now, and hopefully for a while, the Bulls go as Wilson goes.
If he has trouble adjusting to the NBA, then Graham should take a more patient approach. He could trade assets for draft picks and build for the distant future.
If he seems more ready to compete in the next few years, Graham should start adding talent. Young talent, still. Wilson is still young. But he could try to get decent players.
Depending on how good Wilson is right away, Graham will have to figure out what his team-building approach will be.
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