Likening the Bulls‘ hiring of Bryson Graham as their new head of basketball operations to Charlotte bringing in Jeff Peterson or Detroit adding Trajan Langdon, K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Sports Network (Twitter video link) cautions that there’s no guarantee Graham will be as successful as those execs have been so far, but says it’s a “swing on upside” by Chicago.
According to Johnson (Twitter link) and Shams Charania and Jamal Collier of ESPN, the Bulls are expected to give Graham full autonomy – and the resources necessary – to fill out the rest of the front office as he sees fit. As Johnson points out, Graham has ties to current Bulls executives Brian Hagen and J.J. Polk dating back to his time in New Orleans and worked with Pat Connelly‘s brother (Tim Connelly) in New Orleans as well, though that doesn’t necessarily mean that they’ll all remain in their current roles.
Jon Greenberg and Nick Friedell of The Athletic say that league observers are curious about whether the Reinsdorfs will be willing to spend as necessary to upgrade the team’s front office structure, suggesting that ownership has been hesitant to do so in the past and that the team’s scouting and analytics departments have lagged as a result.
However, Joe Cowley of The Chicago Sun-Times refers to that as a “false narrative,” writing that team ownership never said no when former executive VP of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas wanted to add to his front office and that money was never an issue. The problem, according to Cowley, is that the pre-Karnisovas regime of John Paxson and Gar Forman worked mostly as a “two-man operation,” so even though Karnisovas built up the front office during his tenure, it still didn’t catch up to the rest of the league.
That’s expected to change under Graham, with one source telling Cowley, “We’ve been playing checkers and now it’s time to play chess.”
Here’s more on the Bulls and their new lead front office executive:
- Having solicited sources inside and outside the organization for their thoughts on Graham, Johnson (Twitter link) says those sources described him as a “great listener” and “straight shooter” who “brings people together.” One source added that Graham “knows he doesn’t have all answers and is comfortable using depth to help.”
- Graham’s ability to collaborate appealed to the Bulls, per Charania and Collier. Team sources told ESPN that they like the fact that Graham has held so many roles up and down a front office throughout his career, since the club is hopeful he’ll be able to bring together a basketball operations department that became “disjointed” under the previous regime.
- Sources in league coaching circles expect Spurs assistant Sean Sweeney to emerge as one of the Bulls’ head coaching candidates, reports Marc Stein of The Stein Line (Substack link). Sweeney is also reportedly in the running for New Orleans’ job.
- Cowley reported over the weekend that the Bulls would still love to hire Celtics assistant GM Dave Lewin, who was a finalist for the head of basketball operations job. He reiterates that point today, writing for the Sun-Times that if the Bulls aren’t able to bring Lewin aboard under Graham, they’ll want to find someone like him, since they were very impressed from his presentation “from an analytics and strategy standpoint.”
The previous regime was ” Disjointed”. That’s the understatement of the last 2 centuries. Rancid, putrid and ignorant are better descriptions. Non existent might work too.
It’s a new day Unclemike. All about the draft now.
I’ve read Graham is considered a top talent evaluator. And scouting for talent.
It will be interesting to see how Bulls spend their money this year. They also hav the options of sign-n-trades.
The best news I heard in this article is he’s planning on bringing the FO operation into this century. That obviously was a sore point as evidenced by the Bulls recent draft history which was ridiculous. Press conference is set for noon tomorrow. Hopefully he’s not like Jed Hoyer who can talk for an hour but actually say nothing. I’d like to hear how he’s planning on doing it. Anyway there is some hope being a Bulls and Hawks fan for a change. Might be slow progress but any progress is a good thing AL. Hopefully I won’t need a new TV this year for a change.
If Essengue reports are true and he grew over the winter and closer to 7’0 that’s a huge plus for us. I’m hoping he also grew some confidence and brain cells. We lack intelligent players lol.
Just from watching him in preseason, it seemed like he knew how to play. The two real games though he was nervous.
Bad hire
Should have went with Matt Lloyd from Minnesota and let him bring over Micah Lori to replace Donovan. Bringing in Lori who worked Jokic and Edwards and who both have high praise for would have been two birds one stone kind of thing the Bulls need.
They went with former Hawks and Pelicans exec. Epitome of success obviously instead of Minnesota Denver.
But I guess there’s hard feelings between Lloyd and the Bulls org after he robbed them blind in the Dosunmu trade despite Lloyd having ties to the org previously
Ayo will be a free agent. Do you think Graham should try to sign him?
Unless bulls throw an ungodly amount at him Dosunmu is heading to a contender
I think it’s
1. Lakers if LeBron leaves and they rebuild around Luka
2. Reunion with Timberwolves if they can get financials working
3. Heat
So do you think Graham should throw an ungodly amount at Ayo to sign him?
Ayo isn’t coming back. For some unknown reason he loved Donovan so that ship sailed when Donovan walked out the door. What bad blood was there between the Bulls and Lloyd? I’ll tell you. None. The Bulls needed somebody now to set up a whole new FO, Hire a GM, Scouts, and the combine is in 8 days and the draft in June. Lloyd still has a job and wouldn’t leave nor do I blame him. That may sound like a lot of time but it’s really not. They’re going to have to work fast to be ready for the decisions that have to be made on FA, Draft and Player options. And what to do about Richards, Simons, Sexton and so on….. Bulls seem more than happy what they got for Ayo. The fans will miss him but we’ll be fine.
Bulls sold severely low on Dosunmu – Dillingham Miller and 2nd rounders for a highly sought after trade chip is criminally low
Hiring a GM scouts and your front office in 8 days is a recipe for disaster if you’re letting the combine of all things dictate who you hire and don’t hire
NFL coaches and execs do it all the time while playoffs are happening where OCs DCs they get hired to a new gig while said team was still in the playoffs
Plus Lloyd’s still taking part in combine activities as part of his current team lmao.
When the Bulls traded Dosunnu and White, the Bulls had no leverage. Both were on expiring contracts. Think the Bulls did very well considering the situation.
No leverage? Did either have a no trade clause and could veto any trade or had limited no trade clause where they could veto certain teams?
If the answer is no they had leverage- pitting teams against each other driving up the price. Esp pitting conference rivals against each other
Considering the deals they got it’s like they took the first deal offered and called it a day.
Undraftedloop first- so is this the entire point of your rant? That AK should have tried harder to get a better deal? I guess he should have used the Jedi mind trick on Connelly. “You will give me Beringer and two firsts.” “Yes, I will give you Beringer and two firsts.:
Me: “ after he [Lloyd] robbed them blind in the Dosunmu trade”
So you’re fine with a GM not getting the best deal possible? Thats your stance?
I’m assuming now that you are just trolling. What deal exactly could the Bulls have had? It was reported on this site that the Bulls talked to at least five teams about Dosunmu. Did you hear that one of them offered more than Connelly did?
“Talked to at least 5 teams”
Should have talked to at least EVERY team contending. Thanks for proving my point. Appreciate it. They didn’t do enough to get the best deal possible. You just confirmed it. They took the deal they liked out of maybe 5 deals and didn’t even try to get other deals from other teams. Case closed lol
Ahh you’re correct definitely should’ve went with a up and coming executive who worked under Tim Connelly who’s had success with one of the NBA’s best teams. What could go wrong (AGAIN)?
What tells you the Bulls WON’T hire Micah Lori anyway? Right now everything is on the table. I even heard Thibodeau’s name tossed around. What a disaster that would be. Can you imagine a team of 20 somethings with Thibs? I just shuddered. Plus the Bulls got Miller and Dillingham and draft picks for Ayo. Robbed? We’ll see. If Ayo leaves who robbed who? One of the few smart deals AKME made.
Thibs is a team builder. He should at least be an advisor. He turned the Knicks around in two yrs. And built them up nto a contender in 5 yrs. And Bulls have more talent and picks than Knicks did.
A depth front court piece
A failed lottery 7th overall pick
4 second rounders who if they do well are late 2nd rounders
Yeah sounds like a great return for a highly coveted heavily sought after trade chip when your best asset is a back up PF/C
Who says Micah WANTS the Bulls job? It’s the least desirable job on the market atm. It’s one thing if they hired Lloyd and Lloyd convinced him to come to Chicago. But between Chicago and Orlando 10/10 times Micah is taking Orlando. The pelicans job with Zion is even more enticing.
They said worse about Knicks job. Until Thibs came.
All about finding talent. And knowing what to do with it.
I guess we’ll find out at noon today.
Knicks improving had more to do with improving the back court situation from Elfrid Payton Frank Ntilikina Dennis Smith jr to Derrick Rose Immanuel Quickly Alec Burks
Yeah a d that was Thibs. Point is he took over a last place team. And turned it around in two yrs. Helped make Randle and Mitch. Used the rraft well and smart.
Was actually Leon Rose who brought them in. Not Thibs
Knicks were bound to improve having improved their back court Thibs or not.
“Helped make Randle and Mitch”
Not really
Randle scored 20 a game under Fizdale playing 32 mins. All Thibs did was increase his usage to 37 35 35 35 a game
Robinson averaged 10 a game and 7 rebounds a game his second year under Fizdale in 23 mins
Under Thibs
8 / 8 in 27 mins
8 / 8 in 25 mins
7 / 9 in 27 mins
5 / 8 in 25 mins
“Used the rraft well and smart.”
Toppin / Bolmaro
Grimes / McBride / Jokubaitis / Sims
No Picks
Trevor Keels
Dadiet / Hukporti
Well, I guess if you count trading picks away for OG, Bridges, and others that was smart cause Thibs certainly didnt draft well and smart
Go learn what happened before Thibs came in. Rose went and got players Thibs wanted. Rose has learned more from Thibs than anyone on Knicks. Learn Thibs history with Knicks. Rose is nothing without Thibs …. You don’t seem to know what team building means. Cause Thibs knowledge is all over the Knicks in his 5 yrs here.
“Rose has learned more from Thibs than anyone on Knicks”
Yes. Rose brought them in. Thats what GMs do. Sign guys.
“Learn Thibs history with Knicks. Rose is nothing without Thibs”
He came to a situation where they already had
Randle, Robinson, Barrett, Bullock, Gibson on the roster. All that was needed was back court help. That could have been done with or without Thibs.
Youre giving the dude way too much credit. His first year they improved and his second year they regressed from 4th to 11th in the conference.
Thibs didnt trade for Bridges, OG, Towns- Rose did and is what put them on the path they are currently acquiring guys instead of drafting (debunking your whole they drafted well statement).
Rose built the contender. Thibs didnt.
A non Knicks fan knowing more than you must really sting.
Poseuraz has another account now 🤡
Yeah that’s it I have all the time in the world to go around accounts. I never muted you you just are stuck in 56K dialup. That’s why half your posts are filled spelling errors and gibberish.
Yeah, idk who that is lmao
Apparently they also proved you wrong I assume?
Well common denominator is you champ
Chinese checkers?
So the resources are only available to build a better front office, but not to sign better players?
The Bulls should have hired someone from a winning organization. Give the new hire a chance, and if he cannot turn things around, open the Chicago Bulls checkbooks, and pay someone who can.
Except they won’t do that. Not until they agreed to sell the team.
I would like them to hire Micah Nori as a new head coach. Or bring back Thibbs.
👉🏻👉🏻Reply Flag Mute👈🏻👈🏻
poseuraz 👇
👉🏻👉🏻Flag Mute👈🏻👈🏻
raz trolls like a nightwalkrr looking for a 💵
Incognito grow some cojones. Abe just called. He said to bring more protection…🤡
Don’t you think that AK shopped both Dosunmu and White around to all the other 29 team? If AK could have gotten more then that is what would have happened.