The Chicago Bulls are not dabbling in a casual coaching search. The front office has opened things up across the league, checking on assistants from some of the NBA’s steadiest organizations, along with a few recent interim success stories as new executive boss Bryson Graham starts shaping the franchise in his image. Over the past week, reports have linked assistants from San Antonio, Miami, Portland, and Cleveland, plus a handful of veteran options, to the open chair. With the draft around the corner and expectations cranked up, this hire is set to define Chicago’s rebuild and player development path for years.
Graham at the helm
Bryson Graham was formally introduced as the Bulls’ executive vice president of basketball operations in early May and has been clear about his first big projects: modernizing the front office and running a thorough coaching search. He has framed the hire as a collaborative decision, while moving quickly to assemble key staff and build out a process for evaluating candidates. As outlined by NBA.com, Graham will drive the search and set the organization’s development priorities.
Who’s on the radar
The early list of names looks like a snapshot of the current coaching market: up-and-coming assistants, player development specialists, and a couple of more seasoned possibilities. According to FOX 32 Chicago, the Bulls have been linked to Sean Sweeney, Micah Nori, Dave Bliss, Chris Quinn, Jerry Stackhouse, Tiago Splitter, and Johnnie Bryant. Splitter stands out on that list as the only candidate with recent NBA head coaching experience, after guiding Portland to the playoffs as the team’s interim head coach this season.
Top contenders: Sweeney and Quinn
Two names have generated the loudest buzz so far: San Antonio assistant Sean Sweeney and Miami mainstay Chris Quinn. Sweeney’s reputation is built on constructing high-end defenses, and his work with Victor Wembanyama has made him one of the hottest names on the market. Quinn, meanwhile, has spent roughly a decade on Erik Spoelstra’s staff, carving out a role as a trusted teacher who can translate the Heat’s demanding standards to players. Sports Illustrated recently slotted Sweeney at the top of Chicago’s wish list, while the Chicago Sun-Times reported that the Bulls view Quinn as a serious option.
Interviews heating up
There are signs the process is shifting from rumor mill chatter to actual sit-downs. Multiple outlets have reported that the Heat granted the Bulls permission to interview Quinn and that the Cavaliers gave Chicago the green light to speak with Johnnie Bryant. Michael Scotto was first to report the Quinn development, and outlets such as RealGM picked up the story, while HoopsRumors chronicled the latest round of interview permissions. With a few candidates still tied up in postseason runs, Chicago may have to sit tight before it can lock in a final choice.
What the hire will tell us
Who Graham ultimately picks will say plenty about where the organization wants to go next. A coach known first as a teacher would signal a full embrace of development and patience, while a more established, win-now voice would hint that the Bulls want results to show up quickly in the standings. Since taking over, Graham has repeatedly emphasized culture and development as Chicago’s foundation, a theme echoed across team messaging and local coverage. For a closer look at his early moves and priorities, see Bulls Hand Keys To Bryson Graham. Expect the interview slate and internal debates to pick up speed in the coming weeks as the Bulls juggle the draft calendar with their high-stakes coaching search.
