Caleb Wilson makes it clear he isn’t taking his Bulls games in Vegas lightly

While his top-four peers from the 2026 NBA Draft have effectively been shut down from additional Las Vegas Summer League games, Caleb Wilson vehemently went against the grain and started in the Bulls' third game of the 2026 NBA summer league against the Washington Wizards.

The Caleb Wilson campaign in Las Vegas has quickly set the foundation for Wilson’s reputation as a high-motor wing. 

Summer league basketball is as much about the process you see players work out in their game as the production that shows up in the box score.  It’s worth noting that Wilson worked on slick short-roll passing in the paint, making behind-the-back passes to center Tobe Awaka, who was able to draw a foul, rolling on a Wilson pass to the rim at the 1:11 minute mark of the first quarter.

Wilson finished the game with 19 points, 8 rebounds, and one block.

Bulls’ defense finally arrives in Las Vegas

Two-way contract guard Jaylin Sellers proved to be a defensive catalyst for the Bulls that ignited a run late in the third quarter, starting with blocking Ruben Nembhard Jr.’s shot at the 1:08 minute mark, which snowballed into a dominant fourth-quarter lead that the Bulls maintained comfortably to the end. 

Bulls defeated the Wizards 99-87 in their first summer league win, and Sellers finished the game with 24 points, three steals, and one crucial block!

Dailyn Swain’s ups and downs

Bulls rookie guard Dailyn Swain’s most consistent development area through three summer league games is his processing time in offensive possessions. 

It appears that Swain is currently using his dribble as a sensory device to guide his basketball decision-making.  Unfortunately, the NBA game, even in summer league, moves too fast for the amount of dribbling he has exhibited in his summer league minutes.

Swain was listed as the starting small forward after starting the first two Bulls summer league games at point guard, and ironically, logged his highest assist total with 5 assists.  Shooting remained a weak point in Swain’s game, shooting 0/7 from the field.  However, Swain did find defensive contributions with one steal and one block.  

Also, for good measure, Swain logged five rebounds.  Ideally, Bulls fans should hope to see more decisive offensive contributions out of Swain that don’t involve his jumpshot, such as rebounding, or cutting, or screening for his teammates. 

In his first three games, whether on or off the ball, Swain needs to find his own version of his motor, just like his draft-mate Caleb Wilson.

Noa Essengue's inconsistency red flag 

The last first-round draft pick of the Arturas Karnisovas Bulls front office regime, forward Noa Essengue, received a dubious summer league benching after starting the Bulls' first two summer league games.  Essengue’s first half was once again unremarkable, yet he found some useful moments in the second half with a catch-and-shoot three-point make.  

The fact that Essengue isn’t starting in a summer league game as a main roster player is a huge cause for concern that certainly will raise questions about Essengue’s long-term future in a new-look Bulls organization that has minimal obligation to the player.

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