The Chicago Bulls, needless to say, haven't seen what they've wanted out of former 12th-overall pick Noa Essengue.
Essengue played just a handful of games in 2025-26 before suffering a season-ending shoulder injury. But even in his stint in this year's Summer League, he still largely looked physically outmatched and awkward with the ball in his hands.
His upside is no secret, though, and that's why he was a lottery pick under Chicago's old regime. At 6'8", Essengue profiles long-term as a potentially potent two-way, 3-and-D wing, with the length and the athleticism to make major plays on the defensive end of the court and the speed to help push things in transition.
He's not yet ready to take on major minutes, and there's a chance he'll be sidelined in the rotation this season behind Matas Buzelis, Isaac Okoro, and even Patrick Williams. But if Chicago can continue to help him gain comfort at the NBA level, he still has a path to being an integral part of the Bulls' future.
No matter who is playing point guard long-term, they need a connective, defensively capable wing to complement the downhill skill sets of Buzelis and Wilson, and Essengue can be that piece if he's given time to develop.
Noa Essengue could eventually have the versatility to complete this Bulls rotation
Almost any strides from Essengue during his 'redshirt rookie' season with Chicago should be massively encouraging. If he can take on a true rotational role by the end of the season, that should be considered a victory.
But when you're entering a rebuild like the Bulls are, the thinking needs to be focused on the long-term. Even if Essengue doesn't start to flash what he's clearly capable of on both ends of the court this season, there needs to be patience for him to eventually crack the rotation.
There's a reason I didn't commit to Josh Giddey in the long-term vision of the Bulls starting five. Although doesn't feel like Giddey is an immediate trade candidate (and he has three years remaining on the four-year, $100 million deal he signed with Chicago last offseason), there's room for him to be moved if Chicago ultimately determines he doesn't fit their vision of a fully defensively capable and athletic roster. Buzelis and Wilson are the real cornerstones of this team, and everything will be built around them from here on out.
That's what makes Essengue's potential fit so tantalizing.
If we want to chart Essengue's development optimistically, he can become a capable perimeter shooter and a potent defender in a bench wing/combo forward role behind those two pieces—the kind who can help bridge the gap between the starters and the bench unit with consistent two-way play. But if Chicago wants to lean into athleticism and defense over the coming season, having a piece like the one Essengue can become would grant them enviable flexibility. Imagine a lineup of Giddey, Essengue, Buzelis, Wilson, and a floor-spacing, rim-protecting center for stints in the first halves and in the closing moments of games.
While we can't pull Essengue's pro-level stats with Ratiopharm Ulm as indications of his offensive upside, his ability to hold his own with those sort of players—and continue to rapidly improve over the course of his pre-draft campaign—leaves ample room for optimism regarding his development at the NBA level.
Whether he's developed long-term in a starting or a bench role, therefore, Bulls fans should still be excited about what Essengue can provide long-term.
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