Caleb Wilson, Chicago Bulls

With the NBA Draft right around the corner, the Chicago Bulls will undoubtedly be working overtime to get a clear picture of who they want to take with their 4th overall pick.

According to Sam Vecenie’s latest mock draft for The Athletic, Caleb Wilson, out of North Carolina, is the most likely candidate. Wilson is viewed as a future star, on par with the other members of his draft class who are expected to go in the top three.

“It’s all about power and explosiveness for Wilson,” Vecenie wrote. “He plays with terrific bend and balance as a driver. Combine that with his strength and leaping ability, and you get a special player who can dominate at the rim.”

Vecenie continued.

“The further into the cycle we get, the more I hear from scouts who see Wilson in the same group as Peterson, Dybantsa and Boozer, with some even ranking him as a top-three player in the class. It didn’t hurt Wilson’s case that he outperformed all three of those players when North Carolina played them this season (in Dybantsa’s case, in the preseason, but still).”

Wilson would be an ideal addition to the Bulls front court. He would slot in next to Matas Buzelis and provide energy, athleticism and elite-level upside.

Jonathan Wasserman Also Projects Caleb Wilson

Vecenie isn’t the only draft expert to project Wilson landing with the Bulls. Bleacher Report’s Jonathan Wasserman also has the explosive forward falling into Chicago’s laps with the 4th overall pick.

“Caleb Wilson should look like an easy plug-and-play forward for the Chicago Bulls at the 4,” Wasserman wrote. “They could now have versatile, frontcourt cornerstones in Wilson and Matas Buzelis to build around.”

Wasserman continued.

“There are even NBA front office members who actually prefer Wilson to Cameron Boozer, whose athletic limitations have raised some skepticism. Certain scouts sound willing to bet on Wilson’s open-floor ball-handling, shotmaking flashes and passing continuing to improve to complement the quickness, explosion and defensive range that Boozer lacks.”

Clearly, Wilson is viewed as a near-ideal fit for the Bulls as they continue to navigate their current rebuilding efforts.

The Bulls Would Get A High Ceiling Talent In Wilson

During a recent episode of ESPN’s “Get UPm” Jay Williams discussed Wilson’s talent, noting how he could become a Kevin Garnett-like player.

“Caleb Wilson, watching him work out, has shown the ability to put the ball down on the ground… By the way, the first time I saw him this year, the bar was Jermaine O’Neal. The ceiling? Kevin Garnett,” Williams said. “Now, when I watch him play, the bar seems like Kevin Garnett, the ceiling seems like Giannis. It feels like that’s where his ceiling could be.”

High praise for a rookie who has yet to set foot on an NBA court. Nevertheless, it’s becoming increasingly clear that Wilson is a can’t-miss talent with the fourth overall pick. If he’s still on the board when Chicago comes to make their selection, it should be an easy decision.

From there, it’s on Wilson to prove he can be the player everyone is hoping he becomes.