After previously identifying Matt Lloyd, Bryson Graham, and Dennis Lindsey as finalists for the Bulls‘ head of basketball operations job, Jake Fischer of The Stein Line adds another name to that list, reporting (via Twitter) that Celtics assistant general manager Dave Lewin met with Chicago and is advancing to the round of in-person interviews.
A Massachusetts native and a longtime member of Boston’s front office, Lewin joined the Celtics as a scouting coordinator in 2012. He later held the titles of director of scouting, G League general manager, and director of player personnel before being promoted to assistant GM in 2022.
According to Fischer (Twitter link), the Bulls seem “very much on pace” to have a new top basketball executive installed in advance of the start of the draft combine, which officially begins on May 10.
We have more from around the Central:
- Within their latest NBA rumor round-up, Fischer and Marc Stein of The Stein Line (Substack link) provided some additional context on Billy Donovan‘s decision to split with the Bulls just a year after signing a contract extension. According to Fischer and Stein, that new deal that Donovan signed in 2025 included a 2026/27 option clause that allowed Donovan to “walk away at his discretion.” Donovan and several Bulls staffers shared the view that a rebuild is likely in the team’s best interest, sources confirm to The Stein Line, which was a major factor in the veteran coach’s decision to step down.
- Dustin Dopirak of The Indianapolis Star (subscription required) considers six questions the Pacers may have to answer this offseason, including who to draft if they keep their top-four protected pick, whether or not to extend Jarace Walker and/or Ben Sheppard, and whether to hang onto reserves like Quenton Jackson and Kam Jones.
- Evan Mobley made just 8-of-24 shots in Games 3 and 4 in Toronto and the Cavaliers were outscored by 33 points when he was on the court. Still, head coach Kenny Atkinson gave the 2025 Defensive Player of the Year a vote of confidence following Sunday’s loss, as Joe Vardon of The Athletic relays. “Evan has been one of our best players in this series,” Atkinson said. “Maybe (Sunday), you could argue he wasn’t, but he has been one of our better players throughout the series.” No Cavalier is under contract for longer than Mobley, who has four years and $222.7MM left on his deal after this season.
So according to Billy, He would rather plod along for the Play in games than get a Starting C and PF and keep playing undersized people who get beat up on a constant basis. Playing a style that has been passe’ since the 1980’s and in general proven completely lame today? No offense Billy but I’m totally ecstatic you’re gone! I can’t thank you enough for taking a hike. Sooner would have been better though. I think Bozo the Clown would be an improvement as a basketball coach. Or like RAZ says, A Home Depot Coach.
What’s this “passe” style you speak of?
I wish the Bulls could find another coach like Dick Motta!
So the Stein Line is reporting that some of the Bulls staff think the teams should be rebuilding. I guess that would be interesting if they think that because that is what Michael Reinsdorf told them. Otherwise I would say let’s wait to hear what the new GM says. In any case, during Reinsdorf’s press conference last month he said five different times that he doesn’t believe in tanking, so the Bulls definition of a rebuild could be different than most team’s.
Well there’s a fundamental difference to tanking and not playing certain players to lose games and Playing a bunch of young players while trying to win games and set a culture. One would only hope they would let the chips fall where they may with the lottery balls is different to me. But the Bulls don’t have to “Tank” to lose because for years they’ve been playing small ball and injured because of constantly being undersized and out gunned with poor shooters. Only hope the new leader has a better perspective.
Most people would say the Bulls biggest needs have been a rim-protecting center and a #1 scorer. So your comments about needing more size and more shooting are pretty close to that. I think Bulls fans would also like to see more two-way players on the team.
I feel the biggest question on how the Bulls move forward from here is what the new GM does with their $60 million cap space. Does he use it to add good players to fill some of the holes, or does he use it to bring on overpaid, over-the-hill players with draft picks attached. A lot of sportswriters have been wanting the Bulls to go the latter route, but I think Reinsdorf has considered that a form of tanking and resisted that approach in the past.
Hope that the Bulls use the $60 million wisely. If the Bulls can’t sign good FAs, can’t the Bulls just not spend the money and wait for another year?
There is a salary floor so Bulls have to spend at least $46 million, but they don’t have to do it now, they could wait until the trade deadline if they want. And to your point they could create a lot of cap room next year as well, by just trading for $46 million of expiring contracts.
I would expect the new GM to be more aggressive than that though. There are 7 teams that will be looking to reduce salary over the summer, and only the Bulls, Nets and Lakers have cap space to absorb salaries above the mid-level. So the Bulls should be able to use their $60 million to do some deals.
Hope that the new GM makes good decisions. Would be good to al least make an offer for Walker Kessler. Hope that the Bulls stay way away from Draymond, Austin Reeves, VanVleet, Kaly Thompson.