Bulls appoint Graham amid rebuild, replacing Karnisovas and Eversley
Chicago Bulls have initiated a franchise reset under Bryson Graham, who replaces the previous front office and has begun assembling a young roster through the 2026 NBA draft and free agency.
The Chicago Bulls have appointed Bryson Graham as vice-president of basketball operations, a move that formally replaces Arturas Karnisovas and Marc Eversley following a period of sustained mediocrity. Graham, a former executive with the Atlanta Hawks and New Orleans Pelicans, was hired after the previous leadership team was dismissed on April 6 following a dismal season. The appointment marks a definitive shift in governance for the franchise, which has missed the playoffs in eight of the past nine seasons and has not advanced past the conference finals since 1998.
Graham has immediately moved to establish a collaborative culture, contrasting with the insular decision-making processes described by former staff under the previous administration. To assist in his own appointment, the Bulls engaged a search firm, a departure from the direct hiring approach used six years ago. Graham has also hired Tiago Splitter as head coach and reinstated longtime executives John Paxson and Brian Hagen to more active roles within the organisation. He has explicitly defined the current state of the franchise as a "real rebuild," acknowledging that the team is "extremely young."
The new leadership’s strategy is anchored in the 2026 NBA draft, where the Bulls selected North Carolina forward Caleb Wilson with the fourth overall pick. Graham described Wilson as a "foundational piece" needed for the team’s future. The Bulls also selected Texas guard Dailyn Swain with the 15th pick. This draft class is intended to form the core of the rebuild, addressing the roster’s lack of young talent that characterised the previous era of "NBA stasis."
In free agency, the Bulls have utilised their cap space to sign veteran depth, including Nic Claxton, forward Norman Powell on a two-year, $45 million deal, and centre Zach Collins on a two-year, $17 million contract. These moves are designed to provide experience while the young core develops. Powell and Collins both have team options in the second year of their deals, offering flexibility as the organisation navigates the league’s new lottery odds system.
The transition aims to rectify past structural failures, including poor draft evaluations such as selecting Patrick Williams over Tyrese Haliburton in 2020, and a reluctance to tank for higher lottery odds. Graham has emphasised that he does not want to be "the smartest guy in the room" and intends to lead through collective input from the scouting and analytics departments. The goal is to establish a clear team identity and sound decision-making processes that can return the iconic franchise to competitiveness.
