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Bulls Sit Rookie Caleb Wilson, Add Center Nic Claxton

7/18/2026

Summary

Caleb Wilson Benched

The Chicago Bulls announced rookie forward Caleb Wilson will sit out the final Summer League game on Friday.
Wilson averaged 23.5 points, 7.2 rebounds, 2.5 blocks, 1.8 assists and 1.2 steals, shooting 41.9% from three-point range and raising his three-point rate from 9.1% at UNC to 47.1% in Summer League.
Coach Tiago Splitter will design spacing templates for Wilson and the Bulls acquired center Nic Claxton to pair with him.

Summary

Bulls Point-Guard Crisis

The Bulls entered Summer League with limited point-guard options, forcing rookie Caleb Wilson and 15th-overall pick Dailyn Swain to handle ball-handling duties.
Chicago shot 3-33 from three-point range in the loss to the Lakers, exposing a serious long-range shooting deficiency.
After cutting Noa Essengue’s minutes, Coach Tiago Splitter projected that forward Patrick Williams will receive the bulk of minutes next season, leaving Swain and Essengue unlikely to secure significant roles.

History

Historical Context

The NBA’s off-season showcase began in 2004 when the Las Vegas Summer League debuted at UNLV with six teams playing 13 games, complementing the existing Orlando Pro Summer League (2002-2017). Its rapid growth—reaching 32 teams by 2019—made it the premier venue for rookie evaluation, a model the Chicago Bulls now use to shape their roster.

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Caleb Wilson Benched

The Chicago Bulls announced rookie forward Caleb Wilson will sit out the final Summer League game on Friday.
Wilson averaged 23.5 points, 7.2 rebounds, 2.5 blocks, 1.8 assists and 1.2 steals, shooting 41.9% from three-point range and raising his three-point rate from 9.1% at UNC to 47.1% in Summer League.
Coach Tiago Splitter will design spacing templates for Wilson and the Bulls acquired center Nic Claxton to pair with him.

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