The Chicago Bulls have a new shot-caller. Bryson Graham was named Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations on Monday, May 4, 2026, making the former Atlanta Hawks senior vice president the franchise’s top basketball decision-maker after last month’s front-office shake-up. The organization announced the hire Monday evening as Chicago heads into a pivotal offseason with draft assets and cap flexibility to reshape the roster.
Team welcomes a talent evaluator
Team president Michael Reinsdorf highlighted Graham’s reputation for spotting talent and said the Bulls expect him to build a culture centered on player development and clear communication, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. Graham told the paper he was “incredibly honored” to join the Bulls and thanked ownership for the opportunity. The Sun-Times report notes that the team’s statement formally welcomed Graham to Chicago and laid out his immediate priorities in the role.
A resume built in New Orleans and Atlanta
Before landing in Chicago, Graham spent 15 seasons with the New Orleans Pelicans, climbing from front-office intern to general manager, then moved to Atlanta last offseason, per ESPN. League coverage credits him with an eye for draft-and-develop prospects and several under-the-radar additions that boosted the Pelicans’ roster construction. Atlanta elevated Graham into a senior role as part of its front-office restructure last year, a trajectory that helped make him a favorite among teams looking for a long-term leader.
What he inherits and immediate tasks
The hire puts Graham in charge of a Bulls operation that controls its own 2026 lottery pick, holds additional tradable selections and has significant cap flexibility, according to ABC7 Chicago. Chicago still needs to lock in a permanent general manager and head coach, even as Graham assembles his staff and sketches out a roster plan. Ownership signaled urgency when it dismissed Artūras Karnisovas and Marc Eversley in early April, and sources say Graham was among the finalists interviewed in recent days.
Timing and the offseason calendar
Graham steps in just as the AWS NBA Draft Combine, set for May 10–17 in Chicago, approaches, a key evaluation window for teams and prospects, per the NBA. With the lottery and free-agency period to follow, the next few weeks will be a sprint while Graham names his lieutenants and finalizes a strategy. How quickly he moves, whether toward picks, trades or free-agent signings, will go a long way in shaping the Bulls’ direction for the coming seasons.
