The Chicago Bulls have a new sheriff in town, and his name is Bryson Graham. The former New Orleans Pelicans and more recent Atlanta Hawks executive has been named as the Bulls' new executive vice president of basketball operations. After the end of Chicago’s regular season, the ownership group decided to clean house, firing both general manager Marc Eversley and executive vice president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas. This was then followed by Billy Donovan stepping down as head coach to pursue other opportunities.
At one point, Minnesota Timberwolves executive Matt Lloyd, who has connections to Chicago, was considered the frontrunner. However, here we are.
With a new era underway and Graham leading the charge, many Bulls fans are left wondering what they can really expect from their new executive. And as someone who has seen Graham work his way from an intern to general manager with the Pelicans, I'm here to say Chicago is in incredible hands.
The Bulls are in great hands
For a long time, the Bulls have been stuck in NBA purgatory, having teams that weren't bad enough for a top pick, while also not having a roster good enough to be a contender. But now with Graham in charge, that is bound to change, and it starts with this summer's draft.
Graham's imprint with the Pelicans was always felt in the scouting and player evaluation space. Graham served as both the scouting coordinator and the director of college scouting, leading to his eventual promotion to general manager. Some of his biggest hits as a scout and GM include signing Jose Alvarado as an undrafted free agent, selecting Herb Jones 35th overall and Trey Murphy III 17th in 2021, and drafting Dyson Daniels 8th and Karlo Matkovic 52nd in 2022.
Sure, some may discredit Graham and say he never achieved any real playoff success with the Pelicans, but that falls more on David Griffin than on him. In his time with the Pelicans, Graham was always focused on player development and finding new young talent to bring in each draft cycle.
During his time in New Orleans, he became known for versatile wings that can switch defensively and knock down outside shots. When you look at how the Atlanta Hawks were built up during his one year with them this past season, it's a pretty good recipe for building a young team. Not only will he have a pair of wings that fit the mold of players he likes in Matas Buzelis and Leonard Miller, but Graham also has two top 15 picks at his disposal. The Bulls' pick is projected 9th overall right now, and they also have Portland's pick slotted at 15th.
Over the past several seasons, the NBA has shifted away from small guard and center-less lineups and toward size and versatility. Graham knows this very well and is poised to bring that modern mindset to Chicago. So while he may not have been the hire fans expected or initially wanted, he is exactly who the Bulls need as they enter a new era.
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