The Chicago Bulls' decision to pivot into rebuild mode after years of mediocrity has gotten off to a very enticing start, as No. 4 overall pick Caleb Wilson has been the most exciting prospect this franchise has seen in years.
Former Bulls great Horace Grant apparently didn't get the memo to cut down on the hyperbole and let Wilson develop according to his own expectations. Grant has invoked the name of one of the greatest players in Bulls history when discussing Wilson, putting him in the same category as Derrick Rose when entering the league.
Grant said, via Action Network, that Wilson is the best Bulls NBA Draft pick since Rose, calling the North Carolina product a "beast" and said that he has the "mindset of a killer" on the court. Grant stopped short of putting him in alongside Michael Jordan or Scottie Pippen (obviously), but he did compare him favorably alongside Rose, which is quite the compliment.
Chicago Bulls great Horace Grant compares Caleb Wilson to Derrick Rose
Wilson, who averaged 19.4 points and 9.8 rebounds per game during his lone season with the Tar Heels, is not a perfect prospect, as he came into the NBA with concerns about his offensive upside. However, the Bulls have constructed an environment that will allow him to make mistakes and learn on the job.
The Bulls' offense will lean heavily on a newly constructed young core of Wilson, fellow 2026 rookie Dailyn Swain, and past lottery selection Matas Buzelis. Wilson should eventually work his way into becoming the primary offensive option for new coach Tiago Splitter. Will he be better than Rose? While difficult, that remains to be seen.
Will Chicago Bulls rookie Caleb Wilson be better than Derrick Rose?
Grant is being a bit hyperbolic, as Wilson needs to be several orders of magnitude better than he is now to approach Rose, both before he stepped on the court and after he proved to be one of the best guards of his era. Rose, a native son of Chicago, averaged 16.8 points and 6.3 assists per game in his rookie season, which led to him winning Rookie of the Year.
Wilson has the ability to be a great player and the second-best top-five pick from North Carolina in Bulls history, and Grant is so bullish on his talent that he is putting him on the same level as someone who beat out peak LeBron James for an MVP.
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