The buzz surrounding Caleb Wilson continues to grow and the NBA Draft Combine wrapped up over the weekend, more and more draft scouts couldn't help but wonder if the 6-foot-10 forward will be the best player in this draft.
Most of the post-combine mock drafts still have Wilson going fourth overall to the Chicago Bulls, but some scouts, like Bleacher Report's Will Gottlieb, like Wilson's fit with the Memphis Grizzlies with the third pick, believing his skill set is exactly what that team needs in their rebuild.
"The Grizzlies are reshaping their roster following the Jaren Jackson Jr. and [Desmond] Bane trades and I love the idea of him next to [Zach] Edey and [Cedric] Coward," Gottlieb said while also adding that Wilson would be fun to watch in Chicago, where he could reach his full potential as a scorer.Â
He added that he doesn't like Wilson's overall fit with the Utah Jazz roster, but believes that he could move up to the second overall pick if concerns grow about Cam Boozer's transition to the NBA game and Darryn Peterson's health.
NBA execs believe Caleb Wilson could be the best player in the 2026 NBA Draft
The BR story also included a general synopsis from NBA executives based on a story written by Josh Robbins and David Aldridge from The Athletic. None of the execs voted for Wilson as a potential No. 1 pick for the Washington Wizards, but said they can envision Wilson developing into the best player in the draft.
Those anonymous NBA execs aren't alone in their intrigue about Wilson. Draft Analyst Matt Babcock is also very high on the 19-year-old former five-star recruit. Babcock, who runs the Babcock Hoops website (babcockhoops.com) joined Gottlieb in comparing Wilson's game to Indiana's Pascal Siakam and said that he was excited about what Wilson could be in the NBA.
NBA Draft Analyst Matt Babcock weighs in on Caleb Wilson Checkout https://t.co/8Xxc4mJKYg pic.twitter.com/PNULfAVZAz
— The Basketball Tribune (@Bballtribune_) May 19, 2026
"Such an exciting young prospect. At nearly 6-10, this guy is so athletic. Just watching some of his highlights, just from a fan standpoint, he's just a fun player to watch, and I think he's just scratching the surface of what he could become," Babcock said.
NBA execs and draft scouts are seeing what Tar Heel fans saw for most of the season. Wilson is a special talent that has an elevated sense of the guy that most guys his age don't have. He has tools to become a reliable shooter in mid-range and a real threat on 3-pointers in the league. With his size and long arms, Wilson can be a stellar rim protector and shot blocker, but he can also move outside the paint and defend against the drive.Â
What I love most about Wilson's game is his court vision and basketball IQ. He has great awareness on defense to disrupt ball movement and in the offense he will continue to build the skills with the ball that will make him a viable option to run sets through him. Put him with another big, like Edey, and you can see similar in the high-low to what he had with Henri Veesaar. There are so many different people that share the opinion that Wilson is potentially the best player in the draft, and they aren't wrong.
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