Caleb Wilson Made Chicago Worth Watching Before The Real Season Even Started

Chicago has been one of those teams where I hear somebody tell me 'there's a lot to like' and then I watch them and have a hard time remembering what the fuck I liked. Caleb Wilson might actually make that conversation more interesting. The No. 4 pick gets 15 points, three rebounds, two assists and a steal in his first preseason game, and the Bulls beat Phoenix 124-117. Matas Buzelis had 14, Tobe Awaka gave them 14 and 11 boards, and there was enough young energy on the floor that I wasn't just watching somebody go through the motions until the starters sat. That's what I wanted from the rookie. Not a 30-point explosion so everybody can declare him Rookie of the Year on October 7 — just some proof that the athleticism and willingness to attack we saw in the summer can show up against an NBA opponent. Phoenix had Dillon Brooks scoring 24, but they also had 26 turnovers and somehow made it harder on themselves than it needed to be.

The gambling part isn't me running off to take Wilson's points over the second the regular season opens. Rookie scoring props can turn into some real clown shit when the minutes and shot hierarchy change every night. I'm more interested in whether he's actually getting a defined role next to Giddey and Buzelis, whether Chicago lets him cut and attack instead of parking him in the corner, and how many minutes he earns when the rotation's real. There is a difference between a young player producing because he's got skill and producing because a preseason game gave him 30 opportunities everybody else won't give up in November. On Phoenix's side, if they're handing the ball over 26 times, that's a huge reason not to blindly assume their stars will get normal offensive possessions. Booker won't go cold every night, and one ugly game doesn't erase who he is. I just want us to remember both sides when we're looking at future lines: the rookie's opportunity and the opponent's willingness to make his life easier.

Interesting rookie. Not an automatic over.6IX / WHAT I'M WATCHING