Buzelis sees 'dangerous' pairing with rookie Wilson as Bulls seek to prove something

Matas Buzelis isn’t shy about what he sees in rookie Caleb Wilson. “He’s been incredible,” Buzelis said of Wilson, via Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times. “Of course he’s got a lot to prove, so do I, and I think that’s what makes us dangerous. We want to prove something.”

The Bulls have plenty of new faces this season, but the pairing they may be most eager to see belongs to Buzelis and Wilson, per hoopswire.com. The two have already played together and against each other in training camp scrimmages, and the competition has been intense.

That shared hunger is the engine. Buzelis, entering his second year, sees a kindred spirit in the rookie who arrived with a No. 4 pick’s expectations. Both carry chips, and neither is interested in blending in.

What makes it click is the contrast in how they attack. Wilson has shown he isn’t inclined to ease into anything, while Buzelis brings a seasoned edge to the floor. Together in scrimmages, they’ve pushed each other in ways that have caught the organization’s attention.

The Bulls haven’t announced a starting lineup yet, but the early returns from camp suggest this pairing could be more than a project. It could be a statement.

WHAT HAPPENED IN CAMP

Caleb Wilson, the No. 4 pick out of North Carolina, has already shown teammates he isn’t inclined to ease into anything, according to hoopswire.com. That much became clear early in camp, when the rookie set his sights on veteran Jalen Smith.

Smith said Wilson has tried a few times to dunk over him in camp. Smith hinted that at least one attempt ended with a block.

Wilson’s version? Smith exaggerates, and there was probably a foul. “It will happen,” Wilson said with a smirk.

Whether Wilson actually dunked on Smith or was blocked is disputed between the two players. What isn’t in question is the intent behind the attempts — Wilson came to Chicago to make an impression, not to defer.

Buzelis likes Wilson’s willingness to learn just as much as his willingness to attack the rim. The second-year forward sees a rookie who absorbs instruction but doesn’t soften his approach when the ball is in play. That combination, per hoopswire.com, is what has caught the organization’s attention.

Wilson’s camp performances have been loud in the way that matters most: they’ve forced veterans to respond. Smith’s block, real or exaggerated, was a response. Wilson’s smirk was one too.