At 6’7” and 211 pounds, University of Texas wing Dailyn Swain profiles as the ideal player the new Chicago Bulls front office, led by executive vice president of basketball operations Bryson Graham, should covet in the 2026 NBA Draft.
Swain is a gifted player on both ends of the basketball court, and a skill that should be particularly attractive to the Bulls’ scouting department is his NCAA men’s basketball career free-throw attempt rate (FTr) of 46.4%, per Sports Reference. For context, among the Bulls' common 2025-26 starters, Coby White led the team in FTr at 39.2%, per Basketball Reference.
Free-throw attempt rate is a calculation of free-throw attempts divided by field goal attempts. It is a metric that explains how effective a player or team is at generating free-throw attempts relative to their overall field goal attempts.
Also worth noting in the Texas Longhorns junior’s FTr numbers, his FTr improved year-over-year in each of his three seasons of NCAA men’s basketball, split between Xavier University and the University of Texas.
Free-throw attempts indicate basketball physicality
No one should be surprised that Swain’s NCAA FTr is nearly 50% of his average field goal attempts (FGA). Swain is a dynamic scorer in the paint and at the rim.
Dailyn Swain putting in the effort 🤘#HookEm | @Dai1yn pic.twitter.com/OZOgTja6d6
— Texas Men’s Basketball (@TexasMBB) January 22, 2026
A cursory search for Swain clips by any Bulls fan will reveal a consistent pattern of Swain’s ability to attack the rim with craft and contact.
Dailyn Swain strong in the paint!#LetsGoX | ALL IN pic.twitter.com/2Sr8lnWbhd
— Xavier Basketball (@XavierMBB) February 15, 2025
The NBA Playoffs are the best illustration of the game impact created by drawing free throws. Most notably, the reigning NBA Most Valuable Player, Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, is a savant at getting to the free-throw line.
SGA’s free-throw drawing skills are a huge component of why the Oklahoma City Thunder are the defending NBA champions, challenging to capture a second consecutive NBA championship as they battle the San Antonio Spurs in the 2026 NBA Western Conference Finals.
Speaking of the Spurs, pay attention to the violent rim attacks of their emerging superstar guard Stephon Castle. Among 2026 NBA Playoffs starters, Castle is elite in terms of FTr, posting a 45.7% FTr in the playoffs.
This isn’t to suggest that Dailyn Swain is on his way to becoming the next SGA or Steph Castle; however, the point is, getting to the free-throw line in today’s NBA is a physicality indicator and as critical a skill as dribbling, passing, or shooting. The Bulls' rebuild would get off to a great start if they’re able to acquire Swain with the 15th pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.
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