The Chicago Bulls announced their 2026 Summer League roster on the eve of the team’s trip to Las Vegas. The lineup is built around the two recent draft selections, Caleb Wilson and Dailyn Swain, both taken inside the first fifteen picks of this year’s draft. French forward Noa Essengue, the No. 12 pick from last year’s draft, also earned a spot after spending his rookie season on the sidelines following shoulder surgery. Notably absent is third-year bench player Rob Dillingham, who will miss his first Summer League action since joining Chicago.

Wilson and Swain arrive in Las Vegas with a clear mandate: translate their top-15 draft status into on-court production. The Bulls’ front office expects the pair to shoulder the bulk of rookie expectations, providing spacing and playmaking that fit the team’s emerging style. Their performance will be the first real test of how quickly they can adapt to the NBA level after a brief college tenure.

Essengue’s inclusion is the only instance on the roster of a player not hand-picked by the current front office. Drafted No. 12 by the previous regime, the six-foot-eleven French forward saw his inaugural season cut short by shoulder surgery. The missed development time places him at a catch-up disadvantage, but the Bulls see enough upside to grant him a chance to prove himself alongside the new draftees.

Rob Dillingham’s exclusion aligns with a common practice: players in their third year who have not logged regular-season minutes are often left off Summer League squads. Dillingham is now headed toward his third full season without meaningful playing time, a status that traditionally disqualifies a player from the developmental showcase. His absence underscores the team’s focus on evaluating talent that has yet to log NBA minutes.

The roster decision reflects a broader shift in Chicago’s basketball operations. By limiting Summer League spots to the newly drafted players and Essengue, the front office signals a desire to assess the fresh cohort on its own terms while minimizing the influence of holdovers from the prior regime. This approach also frees developmental resources for players who have the most upside in the short term.

When the Bulls take the court later this week, the Summer League will serve as a proving ground for Wilson, Swain and Essengue. Strong performances could validate the front office’s allocation of minutes and justify Dillingham’s omission. Conversely, struggles may prompt criticism that the team neglected a seasoned bench player who could have provided a stabilizing presence, potentially forcing the organization to reconsider its development strategy for third-year projects.