The excitement around the Chicago Bulls was at a fever following what many felt was an excellent 1st round of the 2026 NBA draft. In a span of mere hours, they added two premier athletes in Caleb Wilson and Dailyn Swain, who were premier rim attackers with elite defensive upside. With two picks in the 2nd round, hopes were high that they might continue going after possible hidden gems. Instead, the team pulled a surprise. It started when they sold the 56th overall pick to the Los Angeles Lakers for cash. Then they selected Purdue guard Braden Smith with the 38th pick, only to trade him to the Indiana Pacers for Kam Jones.
It was a lackluster day for most. People couldn’t understand the reasoning behind the Bulls’ decision-making. Thankfully, the team appears to have redeemed itself with some exciting moves on the undrafted free agent market. It started with the addition of Arizona big man Tobe Awaka. He likely went overlooked because of his underdeveloped offensive game and lack of upside, but one thing is clear. Awaka is a rebounding savant.
His 18.69 offensive rebound rate was the 9th-best in college basketball history. Despite playing only 20 minutes a game last season, he very nearly averaged a double-double (9.3 points and 9.1 rebounds). Then came Jaylin Sellers, a 6’4″ guard from Providence. An older prospect at 23, he never showcased shot-creating skill or defensive versatility. What he does possess is shooting. He averaged 39.2% from three-point range for his entire college career (42% as a senior) and over 50% from inside the arc.
The Chicago Bulls addressed two needs with those additions.
One of the biggest criticisms of the 1st round approach by VP of Basketball Operations Bryson Graham was not adding any pure shooters. It is something the Bulls have been missing for the past few years. While Wilson and Swain are terrific talents, they aren’t reliable shooters yet. Sellers changes that. His smooth stroke can be put to immediate use to create more spacing for Wilson, Josh Giddey, and Matas Buzelis. Chicago was 19th in three-point shooting percentage last season.
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It was much the same story last season in the paint. Opponents killed the Bulls on the offensive glass. They ranked 23rd in offensive rebounds per game with just 10.4. Awaka may only be 6’8″, but he’s strong and physical down low. His intelligence and long arms should help Chicago tilt that number more in their favor. It won’t make them contenders, but these are the kinds of small moves that can have a big impact. Much depends on how new head coach Tiago Splitter utilizes them.
Don’t forget, Graham comes from a strong UDFA background.
People may overlook the undrafted market compared to the draft, but good basketball executives always find talent there. Graham was a big part of helping the New Orleans Pelicans find success in this area. He was there when they signed Jose Alvarado, who developed into one of the best defenders in the league, becoming a critical piece on the New York Knicks’ championship team this past season. There was also Naji Marshall, a talented young forward who has blossomed in Dallas over the previous two years.
Don’t immediately dismiss what the Chicago Bulls acquired because of their status. Evidence suggests both Sellers and Awaka can play. If either of them emerges to give the team serious minutes in the near future, that is a huge victory for the franchise. You’ll often find that the genesis of championship teams often starts with an unexpected find on the undrafted market. This team would know. Their first three-peat in the 1990s wouldn’t have happened without the major contributions of Scott Williams.
