Bryson Graham knew his first order of business was remaking the Chicago Bulls front office into something he felt could execute a rebuild. That meant adding people with sharp eyes for talent, good communication skills, and a competitive mindset. It took some time to get oriented, but the Bulls VP of Basketball Operations finally struck this week. In 24 hours, he made two significant additions to the front office. First came Acie Law as their new VP of Player Personnel, most recently serving as Director of Player Personnel for the Brooklyn Nets. Next was Stephen Mervis, assistant general manager of the Orlando Magic and a renowned salary cap and contract expert.
Immediately, it’s clear that Graham had a plan with these moves. Law comes with a glowing reputation as a talent evaluator, particularly from his time with the Oklahoma City Thunder as their amateur scouting director. Conversely, Mervis is much more the big picture guy. He spent most of his time in Orlando helping develop team strategies and handling their money. In two moves, Graham has covered the two crucial areas of operating a franchise.
Acquire the talent.
Manage the talent.
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Bryson Graham certainly has a sharp eye.
Just start with Law. After concluding a playing career that included a brief stop in Chicago, the 41-year-old wen immediately into scouting in 2018. In less than a decade, he rose from regional scout to player personnel director. That isn’t hard to imagine when you see some of the accomplishments he was involved with. As a scout in Sacramento, he played a big role in adding names like Tyrese Haliburton and Keegan Murray. Then, when he got to OKC, he helped put the finishing touches on their 2024-2025 championship team.
| Player | Draft Year | Pick Number | College / Former Team | Current Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cason Wallace | 2023 | No. 10 overall | Kentucky | Elite Perimeter Defender |
| Nikola Topić | 2024 | No. 12 overall | KK Crvena zvezda (Serbia) | Developing Playmaker |
| Ajay Mitchell | 2024 | No. 38 overall | UC Santa Barbara | Rotation Guard |
This overlooks his brief stint in Brooklyn. Despite only being part of one draft, he helped acquire Egor Demin, Nolan Traore, and Danny Wolf. All made solid contributions as rookies, with all averaging at least nine points and four rebounds per game. That is pretty good considering all three guys were 19 years old.
As for Mervis? He guided the Magic through a series of crafty moves that helped them make the playoffs for three straight years. That includes drafting Paolo Banchero and trading for Desmond Bane.
The Bulls are now well-equipped for what’s next.
There isn’t much time before the NBA draft. It arrives June 23rd. That gives Bryson Graham and his new lieutenants just over a month to complete their preparations. This is a crucial draft for the organization. Thanks to some good fortune, they’ll have the 4th and 15th overall picks. That first one has a good chance to produce an All-Star, be it Cameron Boozer or Caleb Wilson. Then they’ll have a great opportunity to either beef up their front court even more or find some much-needed outside shooting.
From what we know about Graham and Law, keep an eye on the athletic defenders who have good length. Those seem like prospects this new front office loves to target. After several years of poor defensive player, it would be refreshing to see the Bulls shift in that direction. Given the state of the Eastern Conference, it is probably the smart play. You’re not getting past New York, Boston, or Detroit without being tough and physical.
