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Bulls Appoint Bryson Graham Exec VP of Basketball Operations

5/5/2026

Summary

Bryson Graham Hired

The Chicago Bulls hired Bryson Graham as executive VP of basketball operations Monday.
Graham came from the Atlanta Hawks, where he helped win 46 games.
He spent 15 years with the New Orleans Pelicans, rising from intern to GM.
After firing Arturas Karnisovas, Marc Eversley and Billy Donovan, the Bulls entered lottery with a 4.5% chance at No. 1, hold No. 9 pick, two first-round Portland selections, and $58 million of salary-cap space.

Summary

Bryson Graham Hired Bulls

The Chicago Bulls hired Graham, an outsider with no prior Bulls or Paxson ties, as head of basketball operations.
Michael Reinsdorf led the search, working with senior adviser John Paxson and a professional search firm.
Finalists included Dennis Lindsey, Matt Lloyd, Mike Gansey, Dave Telep and Dave Lewin.
The hire marks Chicago’s third head of basketball operations appointment since 2000, signaling a shift toward a scouting-focused rebuild.

Summary

Bulls Coach Resigns

The Bulls ended 2025-26 at 31-51, 12th in the East, missing the playoffs for a fourth straight year.
Billy Donovan, the head coach, resigned in mid-April after six seasons, prompting the need for a new head coach.
Chicago has had four losing seasons and no playoff-series win in 11 years.
The team holds two top-15 picks, three first-38 selections in the 2026 draft, and a league-high $65 million cap space.

Summary

Bryson Graham Leaves

The Atlanta Hawks lost scout Graham ahead of Sunday’s NBA Draft Lottery.
Graham’s scouting résumé includes identifying future NBA contributors Zion Williamson and Nickeil Alexander-Walker.
GM Onsi Saleh said the front office will rely on staff such as Peter Dinwiddie and Kyle Korver to fill the gap.
Graham, a 2009 Texas A&M graduate who played in the Aggies’ Sweet Sixteen run, previously served as a graduate assistant before joining NBA front offices.

History

Historical Context

After Jerry Krause became the Bulls’ GM in 1985, he dismantled the 1998 championship roster, launching a rebuilding era that included a $33 million contract for Toni Kukoc. In 2024 the Bulls kept that scouting-focused approach, appointing former Hawks scout Bryson Graham to lead basketball operations with a 4.5 % lottery chance and $58 million cap space.

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Bryson Graham Hired

The Chicago Bulls hired Bryson Graham as executive VP of basketball operations Monday.
Graham came from the Atlanta Hawks, where he helped win 46 games.
He spent 15 years with the New Orleans Pelicans, rising from intern to GM.
After firing Arturas Karnisovas, Marc Eversley and Billy Donovan, the Bulls entered lottery with a 4.5% chance at No. 1, hold No. 9 pick, two first-round Portland selections, and $58 million of salary-cap space.

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