Bulls see something ‘dangerous’ in Matas Buzelis-Caleb Wilson pairing

The Bulls have plenty of new faces, but the pairing they may be most eager to see belongs to Matas Buzelis and rookie Caleb Wilson.

Buzelis isn’t shy about the possibilities.

“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 two have played together and against each other in training camp scrimmages. Coach Tiago Splitter hasn’t announced a starting lineup, though Buzelis and Wilson could give Chicago a young, athletic frontcourt alongside Nic Claxton.

Wilson, the No. 4 pick out of North Carolina, has already shown teammates he isn’t inclined to ease into anything. Veteran Jalen 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.

That’s a rookie worth keeping an eye on. Buzelis likes Wilson’s willingness to learn just as much as his willingness to attack the rim. He believes the two can become “something special,” though he isn’t proposing they take it easy on each other in practice.

“We can try and kill each other on the court,” Buzelis said.

The Bulls open their preseason Wednesday against the Suns. Let’s see what all that competition looks like when they’re wearing the same uniform.