What are Caleb Wilson’s goals? Will Noa Essengue contribute? 4 questions for the Chicago Bulls entering camp.

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The Chicago Bulls won’t deal in hypotheticals for much longer.

Most of this summer existed in the realm of “what if.” The Bulls cleaned house, hired a new coach and executive vice president of basketball operations, drafted a couple of exciting prospects and added a handful of new faces in free agency. But like any busy offseason, the effects (or consequences) of those actions must be delayed until basketball begins again in earnest this fall.

Next week, the first stage of a crucial season for the Bulls will begin. The team will host media day Monday at the Advocate Center, then launch into training camp to prepare for a slate of five preseason games before the season opener Oct. 21 in Toronto.

Things are about to move very, very quickly. And as a franchise in transition, the Bulls will need to keep an eye on the big picture more than before. Here are four pressing questions ahead of next week’s camp.

1. What are Caleb Wilson’s goals for the season?

This question about the No. 4 pick in the 2026 draft will only reap more questions — but it should be the focal point of every stage of the season for the Bulls.

It’s clear that Tiago Splitter and his coaching staff understand the importance of Wilson’s development this season. Every aspect of his job — from nutrition and recovery practices to on-the-court fundamentals — will operate under a microscope. With a player this young — Wilson turned 20 in July — the primary focus for Splitter is to continue to assess what Wilson needs and how to support him toward that goal.

Many rookies benefit from a checklist to provide clear feedback and benchmarks for their first season. While Splitter and Wilson can take their own approach in this area, the establishment and adjustment of goals will be one of the more critical processes. The pair’s updates out of training camp on that process will provide a helpful roadmap for what to expect out of this season in terms of Wilson’s development.

2. How will the Bulls maximize the Wilson-Buzelis-Giddey rotation?

The most important question of the season is whether Josh Giddey has a long-term future in Chicago.

Giddey presents an interesting quandary for the Bulls. He’s an experienced 23-year-old on a very affordable contract who delivers consistently above-average ball facilitation. His 3-point shooting and defensive effort improved massively last season; but he’s still a defensive hazard who can’t generate high-level scoring on his own. Giddey is a hard worker and a solid teammate. It’s just not clear if he’s the right fit for the Bulls.

The first step of solving that puzzle is figuring out how (or if) he can consistently function in a three-man rotation alongside Wilson and Matas Buzelis. While he is a crucial member of the young core at the heart of the rebuild, Giddey is more of a complementary piece than a foundational building block. Can he create the floor spacing and offensive generation necessary to elevate both of the other players? Can Giddey improve his defense enough to consistently operate (or at least hide himself) in rotations with these teammates? If Giddey can’t excel on the court with Buzelis and Wilson, then he can’t work in this long-term build.

The Bulls should enter the season with a truly open mind toward Giddey, who still has plenty to show as he ushers in a new era with the team.

3. Can Noa Essengue earn a spot in the first-team rotation?

The early signs for second-year forward Noa Essengue don’t look so positive heading into this season. After playing only six minutes in his rookie season because of left shoulder surgery, Essengue didn’t make a strong impression on the new coaching staff during summer league. Splitter criticized Essengue’s motor and effort, benching him for swaths of games after saying he needed to see a higher level of competitive fight from the 19-year-old.

This is a concerning note to receive ahead of what will essentially function as Essengue’s rookie season. Young players can work through any number of technical and tactical woes — poor defensive mechanics, a wonky shot — and come out the other side better for it. But lacking the intangibles that make a player appear competitive to the coaching staff suggests a larger issue for Essengue, who was billed as a defense-first, floor-running big man.

In the best-case scenario, Essengue spent the summer in the gym showing Splitter and company that he’s ready to work his tail off this season. Essengue needs to log significant minutes with the first team to cement his place in a young core alongside Wilson and Buzelis. This doesn’t mean he needs to be the first man off the bench; but a lack of a role in the rotation during a season in which the Bulls are focused on youth development likely would signal a lack of a future in Chicago for Essengue.

4. Who will get the 15th roster spot?

The Bulls are heading into training camp with the 15th spot on the roster still open. This is ideal for a rebuilding team that needs to maintain roster flexibility at the deadline. The Bulls don’t need to dance right up to the line of the salary cap this season; they need to offer a malleable landing spot for teams that might be interested in moving money and picks down the line.

With the second-most cap space in the league ($1.96 million), the Bulls achieved this positioning by avoiding unnecessary hires this summer.

That does leave a few questions hanging in training camp. The Bulls have one full roster spot and three two-way contracts to offer. Draftees such as Jaylin Sellers and Tobe Awaka will compete with training camp invitees such as Peter Suder to nail down these roles, but don’t be surprised if that final spot is left open to the season.