The Chicago Bulls have officially announced the hiring of Bryson Graham as their new executive vice president of basketball operations. Graham, 39, joins the Bulls after a distinguished career, most recently serving as the Atlanta Hawks' senior vice president. His appointment was made public on Monday, marking a new era for the Chicago franchise.

Graham's journey in the NBA spans 15 years with the New Orleans Pelicans, where he steadily climbed the ranks from an intern in 2010-11 to general manager in 2024-25. Last summer, Hawks general manager Onsi Saleh recruited Graham from New Orleans to be his top executive, a testament to his rising profile within the league. Now, Graham assumes the role of the Bulls' top decision-maker, a position that requires both strategic vision and a keen understanding of player talent.

Graham is highly regarded across the NBA for his exceptional scouting eye and impressive drafting track record. His notable picks include Trey Murphy III (17th overall), Herbert Jones (35th overall), Dyson Daniels (eighth overall), and Nickeil Alexander-Walker (17th overall). Daniels and Alexander-Walker notably went on to win Most Improved Player awards in back-to-back years, highlighting Graham's ability to identify and develop burgeoning talent. Furthermore, Graham played a crucial role in facilitating negotiations between the Pelicans and Hawks last year, a deal that resulted in Atlanta acquiring New Orleans' highly coveted 2026 first-round pick.

According to ESPN sources, the Bulls were particularly impressed by Graham's player evaluation skills, especially as they look ahead to a deep 2026 draft class where they are expected to hold multiple first-round selections. Bulls CEO Michael Reinsdorf underscored Graham's qualifications in a team statement: "He has worked his way up through basketball operations from the ground level, and that experience has given him a deep understanding of how to build and sustain a successful organization. He is an effective communicator, a disciplined and thoughtful decision-maker, and someone who truly connects with players and people. He understands today's league, today's players, and what it takes to develop talent and build a winning culture."

Reinsdorf's search for the new head of basketball operations was extensive, involving a search firm and interviews with candidates from various NBA franchises, including Cleveland Cavaliers general manager Mike Gansey, San Antonio Spurs assistant GM Dave Telep, and Boston Celtics assistant GM Dave Lewin. The Bulls conducted in-person interviews last week and considered three finalists over the weekend: Graham, Detroit Pistons senior vice president Dennis Lindsey, and Minnesota Timberwolves general manager Matt Lloyd. While Lloyd was initially seen as a frontrunner due to his 17-year history with the Bulls (1995-2012), Graham ultimately distinguished himself throughout the process. Team sources indicated that Graham's diverse career experience, even at 39 years old, was a key factor, as it could help unify a front office that many within the organization felt had become disjointed under the previous leadership. The Bulls are also expected to grant Graham significant autonomy in constructing the remainder of his front office staff.

Graham becomes only the third individual to lead the Bulls' basketball operations since the turn of the century. He follows John Paxson, who served as president from 2009 to 2020, and Arturas Karnisovas, who held the position for six years before being fired prior to the final week of the 2025-26 regular season. This highly sought-after role offers considerable opportunities, given Chicago's status as the NBA's third-largest market and the team's roster flexibility. The Bulls possess their own 2026 lottery pick, the Portland Trail Blazers' 2026 first-round pick (acquired in a 2021 trade involving Lauri Markkanen), and approximately $60 million in available cap space.

Despite these advantages, Graham faces substantial challenges in rebuilding the roster. The current team includes players like Josh Giddey, Matas Buzelis, Tre Jones, and Noa Essengue, who was a lottery pick last season but played only two games due to season-ending left shoulder surgery. Additionally, Graham will be tasked with finding a new head coach, as Billy Donovan stepped down last month after six seasons. The Bulls concluded the most recent season with a disappointing 31-51 record, missing the playoffs for the fourth consecutive year, underscoring the significant work ahead for their new executive vice president of basketball operations.