Dailyn Swain’s Texas production meets a tougher Bulls learning curve

Dailyn Swain gave Texas more than scoring before Chicago selected him 15th in June. The Longhorns' draft announcement records a junior season in which he led the team in points, rebounds, assists, steals and minutes.

That breadth is the starting point for his Bulls development. Swain averaged 17.3 points and 7.5 rebounds, totaled 129 assists and 59 steals, and shot 54.2% from the field. He started all 36 games and helped Texas reach the Sweet 16 after spending his first two college seasons at Xavier.

His first professional audition supplied a sharp contrast. Blog a Bull's July 17 review reported that Swain shot 4-for-31 across his first four Summer League games and spent more time off the ball as the event progressed.

Neither sample should erase the other. College production explains why Chicago invested a first-round pick; a rough four-game stretch identifies work to do without establishing a career ceiling.

The useful test now is whether Swain can contribute when his shot is unreliable. Passing, rebounding and defensive involvement gave him several routes into a college game. Finding those same routes against professional size and speed will matter while the jumper develops.