The Chicago Bulls didn't necessarily need vindication for taking a chance on Caleb Wilson at the 2026 NBA Draft, but general managers are offering an early source of it. The annual GM Survey was released on Oct. 15 and the incoming class of rookies was inevitably placed under the spotlight.
One of the most intriguing questions posed to the general managers was as follows: "Which rookie will be the best player in five years?" Wilson tied for the most votes with AJ Dybantsa—and was further cemented as Chicago's next franchise player.
In many respects, the question of which rookie will be the best player in five years translates to: Who will be the best player from this class? Leaps are certainly made after the five-year mark, but it's rare that drastic changes to a star's trajectory are made too far after that mark.
The fact that Wilson leapfrogged the No. 2 and No. 3 selections, Darryn Peterson and Cameron Boozer, and tied with No. 1 pick Dybantsa is thus a massive endorsement.
Clearly, the general managers' vote of confidence doesn't necessarily mean that Wilson will live up to the hype. It does, however, reflect a prevailing sentiment that the Bulls nailed their selection at No. 4 and have a true building block to move forward with—if not an outright franchise player.
For a team that's arguably been searching for a true franchise player since the Derrick Rose era ended, Wilson looking the part and receiving external praise is a promising sign.
GMs say Caleb Wilson is the rookie who will be the best player in 5 years
Wilson was sensational during his freshman season with the North Carolina Tar Heels. He averaged 19.8 points, 9.4 rebounds, 2.8 offensive boards, 2.7 assists, 1.5 steals, and 1.4 blocks while showcasing physical and skill-level dominance in the tough ACC.
Wilson carried that success into summer league and the preseason, with the addition of a three-point shot that has many wondering what type of ceiling he has.
What makes Wilson so captivating, however, is that he doesn't fall into any traditional boxes. He's an athletic 6'9" power forward who has the frame to add muscle and potentially win battles down low, but he's also such a fluid athlete and skilled ball-handler that he can play like a wing.
That's been evident in watching Wilson run pick-and-roll ball handler sets and move around the floor with the ease of motion of a wing who's two or three inches shorter than he is.
Throw in signs of a post game, isolation scoring proficiency beyond 24 feet, and playmaking skills on the drive, and Wilson can do just about everything. As if that weren't enough, he's set a personal goal of making the All-Defensive First Team during his career.
If Wilson is as good as he's attempting to be and what general managers see him as, the Bulls' search for a franchise player will finally come to an end.
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