New Chicago Bulls executive vice president of basketball operations Bryson Graham met with assembled Chicago media on Wednesday for an illuminating introductory press conference, alongside CEO Michael Reinsdorf.
Despite growing up in San Antonio and “having love” for the Spurs, the 39-year-old former Atlanta Hawks senior vice president claimed that he spent his childhood in the 1990s as a dynasty-era Bulls and Michael Jordan fan.
“When Michael called and told me I got the job… I started crying. I broke down… because this organization means so much to me,” Graham revealed.
While playing at Texas A&M as a point guard, Graham noted that he tore his ACL “multiple times,” but that his memories of the ’90s Bulls dynasty’s legendary intensity inspired him to attack his rehab.
Graham got his start with the New Orleans Pelicans as an intern in 2010, rising through the ranks to eventually become the club’s general manager, beneath president David Griffin, until Griffin was fired in the 2025 offseason. He cited the impact former New Orleans coach Monty Williams had on him during his early video coordinator and player development days, observing that a lot of his feelings about players boil down to intuition.
Bleacher Nation has taken a look in recent days at Graham’s draft, free agency and trade histories during his tenures as a top decision maker in New Orleans and Atlanta (i.e. since he was first promoted to an assistant GM role in 2019). But what does Graham have to say for himself?
In his evaluation of the current Chicago roster, Graham shed light on his vision for what he’s trying to build.
“It’s gonna take time, we’re in a developmental stage,” Graham said.
He emphasized that they don’t want to rush the rebuild process, which was a refreshing and very un-Bulls stance if it winds up being true. Graham suggested that the Bulls are “at the ground floor” when it comes to their competitiveness.
@ Matt Marton-Imagn ImagesGraham Offers Refreshing Clarity on Current Bulls Roster
Is anyone on the current Bulls untouchable? No.
Graham noted that Chicago lacks clear “star-caliber players” at present, but was quick to express that he wasn’t trying to besmirch the upside of the Bulls’ young talent. Forward Matas Buzelis, who to this writer does have All-Star upside, and point guard Tre Jones were both in attendance.
Chicago should have an estimated $60 million available in free agency this summer, the most of any team. When Sam Smith of Bulls.com asked him about his cap room philosophy, Graham acknowledged that the team isn’t competing for a championship in 2026-27, but would try to add pieces that fit the roster.
Adam Silver and Bulls Matas Buzelis at the 2024 NBA Draft. @ Brad Penner-USA TODAY SportsHow Graham, Bulls Will Approach Draft and Coaching Search
The Bulls boast two first-rounders this summer, including a lottery pick sporting the ninth-best odds at moving into the top four or becoming the No. 1 overall selection. Chicago also has a pair of seconds. In terms of his approach to the 2026 NBA Draft and his preferred player profile, Graham observed that he does like players with length who can handle — noting that the Boston Celtics don’t necessarily have a traditional starting point guard in Payton Pritchard, and that All-Stars Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown often bring up the ball and initiate sets.
Does all this mean that $100 million man Josh Giddey, who’s very much a point guard, could be on the move? Perhaps. He certainly doesn’t sound like he fits Graham’s overall philosophy, with its foci on versatility and defensive upside.
Graham indicated that he hasn’t started his quest for the Bulls’ next head coach just yet. He said that he’s going to get cooking on that in “a week or so,” i.e. towards the end of the NBA Draft Combine. The Bulls have been linked to Spurs lead assistant Sean Sweeney and even a Tom Thibodeau reunion.
All the right things were cited here with regard to the coaching search. Graham suggested that the team will return to more of a two-way focus when it comes to points of emphasis for Chicago’s next coach. He noted that defense has come back to the fore in the playoffs this year (as it does every year), and that he’ll look for players with upside on that size of the court, too. He seemed to hint at a willingness to bring aboard a first-time head coach, which may be the best way to handle a long-term rebuild.
Will Chicago spend behind the scenes when it comes to giving Graham enough resources to compete with the league’s top front offices in San Antonio and with the Oklahoma City Thunder? Will the Bulls dip into the luxury tax to field a consistent winner, should that time ever come?
Michael Reinsdorf spouted some nonsense about how the Bulls have always been enthusiastic about spending to compete, citing the construction of the Bulls’ original Berto Center practice facility — which at the time was the first privately built such space — as an example of Chicago being willing to spend. He fed the press the same thing his dad said, claiming he would spend into the luxury tax for a true contender. We’ll believe it when we see it.
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