Noa Essengue is already accomplishing exactly what the Bulls need in training camp

The Chicago Bulls, above all else, need to work on identifying and developing the young talent they have on the roster in 2026-27.

Sure, the introduction of Bryson Graham and his vision of defense and athleticism across the roster has been highly important, and so have the additions of Norman Powell, Nic Claxton, and Buddy Hield as veteran players who can provide some additional offensive infrastructure to the team. But at the end of the day, all of that will go to waste if Chicago doesn't see major strides out of its young players by the end of the season.

The attention, primarily, will fall upon Caleb Wilson and Matas Buzelis in that regard. To a lesser extent, Dailyn Swain will have the spotlight as well. But even though he's a holdover from the old regime, Noa Essengue also deserves his opportunity to shine. His potential as a connective, two-way wing and combo forward is just too tantalizing to ignore.

The problem is that, given his missed rookie season and the lack of comfort we saw from him in Summer League, it was hard to believe he'd be ready for a real NBA rotational role before the end of this regular season, limiting his development on a roster that still has ample frontcourt contributors to make room for.

But Tiago Splitter reported on Wednesday that Essengue has embraced his new role wholeheartedly, and that's an excellent sign for what he can be for Chicago during his first full NBA season.

Noa Essengue needs to show rapid improvement in Year 2 if he's going to establish himself as a cornerstone of this Bulls roster

Needless to say, a missed rookie season for a player of Essengue's archetype—who needs to gain major strength and comfort at the NBA level—was a disappointing development. It showed during his time in Las Vegas over the summer, where Essengue averaged just 6.5 points and shot 43.8% from the field across his four appearances.

He simply looked outmatched against larger, stronger players, and he didn't seem capable of making a true impact on either end of the court.

But if we're looking at this roster with a long-term view, Essengue has the potential to be the perfect rotational fit alongside Wilson and Buzelis in the frontcourt. He has the length and athleticism to be a formidable defensive presence, and once Jalen Smith, Patrick Williams, and Isaac Okoro are inevitably off the roster, there will be a major need for a player of Essengue's archetype in the offense as well.

Essengue's development, from here, hinges on more than just his comfort with the ball in his hands, though.

If he's going to earn a role this season, it's one that's going to be earned on the margins—playing staunch help defense and fighting against opposing forwards for rebounds. Above all else, Essengue needs extensive NBA minutes if he's going to turn into the type of forward Chicago needs in the rotation over the coming years.

But with the holdovers that are still on this roster from the previous regime, that path won't necessarily be guaranteed. This team will still be looking to sort out its rotation and maximize the trade value of its existing assets, meaning that all three of Smith, Williams, and Okoro will have some role to play over the course of the season.

To see Essengue taking strides as the Bulls kick off training camp, then, is a highly encouraging sign. His continued development will hinge on his ability to wrestle away minutes, either as a wing or as a combo forward, from those bench pieces.

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