Bulls trade – With Wednesday’s Round 2 pick swing, the Bulls added Purdue’s Braden Smith—then traded him to Indiana for Marquette’s Kam Jones—and moved another second-rounder to the Lakers for cash, while promising the group’s defense and physicality will define the rebuild
By Wednesday morning, the Bulls’ draft conversation had turned into something like a test of belief.
At the Advocate Center after Tuesday’s Round 1. Bryson Graham’s “SLAP” acronym—Size. Length. Athleticism. Physicality—was a running joke because it seemed to be missing an S for Shooting. The question wasn’t theoretical for the players they just drafted, either. Caleb Wilson, the No. 4 overall pick, shot 25.9% from three in his one season at North Carolina. Dailyn Swain, No. 15 overall, was at 34.4% from long range.
Graham didn’t pretend the Bulls weren’t looking at shooting when discussing the new class. Of the Bulls players with guaranteed contracts who posted the highest three-point percentage from last season. Jalen Smith led the group with 37.3%. Josh Giddey was at 36.4%, Matas Buzelis at 34.9%, and Patrick Williams at 34.7%.
In Round 2, Graham’s choices made the point—shooting mattered, but it wasn’t the only headline. With the No. 8 pick of the second round (38th overall). he selected Purdue shooter Braden Smith and then traded him to Indiana for 6-4 lefty guard Kam Jones. That deal also included a future swapping of second-round picks and cash considerations.
Jones brings some shooting history, even if it isn’t uniform. He shot 40.6% from three as a junior at Marquette, but in his rookie campaign with the Pacers, he made only 29.3% from long range.
The Bulls’ second Round 2 pick was No. 26 (56th overall). That selection was traded to the Lakers for cash considerations.
Taken together, the moves were about more than adding names. Graham framed the group the Bulls collected over the last few days as the foundation of the rebuild—and said more shooting will still come as the players develop.
“Shooting obviously is a skill that can improve,” Graham said. “(Wilson and Swain’s) mechanics are sound. Both shots are compact. I see guys that can develop. Some history behind some of the guys that were taken in my previous draft history are guys that improved their shooting over the years. When you check a ton of other boxes. defending. playmaking. advantage creating. maybe shooting is somewhat of a weakness at the moment. but it doesn’t deter me from taking you.”.
He connected that to the type of roster profile he wants. “The mentality, the work rate, the variety of skills is really important. So I think those guys might be a little … you know, no one’s perfect. Those guys fit the type of guys we want to bring into this building.”
Still, the Bulls didn’t chase a pure “game-changing shooter” in Round 2. Instead, Graham signaled what he expects to come first from this group.
When the Nic Claxton three-way deal is made official on July 6. Graham said the Bulls will still have $31 million in cap space to spend this offseason. He also pointed to more shooting options as potential targets. including Oklahoma City’s Isaiah Joe. who shot 42.3% from three. described as being on the trade block for opposing teams to pursue.
That’s the can being kicked down the road—hopefully from over 40%—while the immediate priority is getting the fundamentals right on the floor.
“(Defense is) going to be our calling card for our team to begin with,” Graham said. “Coach (Tiago Splitter) has really, really put an emphasis on that as we’ve talked. Being obviously a rookie, you gotta earn your keep. The fastest way to earn playing time and opportunity is on the defensive side of the ball. As Dailyn comes in and Caleb comes in. I’m looking for them to be tone setters on that side of the floor and be pillars for this organization going forward.”.
Wilson said he heard that message.
“Bryson, of course, told me (about) the SLAP thing,” Wilson said of the conversations that had already gone on since he was selected. “But he also said stuff about having great guys and a great locker room and team chemistry, and that’s something I’m always going to be able to give a franchise.”
Wilson also tried to sell the Bulls on what he thinks he can do beyond shooting—what coaches care about when the season starts and every rep matters. “My ability (is) to get to the rim off self-creation. be able to come off ball screens and dribble handoffs. create. I feel I’m a great passer and feel I can create plays for many others without shooting.”.
There’s another layer to his preparation, and it’s oddly personal: Wilson reached out to former Bull and fellow UNC alum Coby White before Tuesday’s draft to understand what the Bulls fan base and the city is really about.
“The intel sounded on point,” Wilson said.
He kept it simple when asked what he’s feeling now. “Excited, grateful,” Wilson said. “Chicago is a great city. I heard it gets really cold. So I’ll get me some puffer jackets and wear me some long johns or something like that to get ready for the weather. But I’m just excited for the opportunity.”
A puffer jacket works. Getting an outside jumper going would just make it easier for everyone involved to believe the “S” for shooting was never missing—it was just arriving later.
MISRYOUM USA News NBA Draft Chicago Bulls Bryson Graham Kam Jones Braden Smith Caleb Wilson Dailyn Swain Josh Giddey Matas Buzelis Patrick Williams Jalen Smith Isaiah Joe Nic Claxton