The Chicago Bulls stayed true to their word when they said they’d keep an open mind during the interview process for their new VP of Basketball Operations. Rather than going with the familiar pick of Matt Lloyd, they pulled a surprise by hiring Atlanta Hawks general manager Bryson Graham. It was an inspired pick. Graham is only 39 years old, making him one of the youngest top executives in the NBA. Even so, the hire is already getting widespread praise. Graham has a reputation as one of the league’s better talent evaluators.
What isn’t known is what that precisely entails. It is hard to take people at their word without at least a couple of examples to help paint a picture. Luckily, New Orleans Pelicans beat writer Rod Walker provided information on that front. He followed Graham’s ascent from intern to his promotion into the Pelicans’ front office. During an interview on 104.3 The Score, he was asked which players the new Bulls VP had helped acquire. The list is more extensive than you’d think.
- C Yves Missi – 2024-2025 All-Rookie Team
- SF Trey Murphy – 21.5 points, 5.7 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 1.5 steals this season
- SG Nickeil Alexander-Walker – 2025-2026 Most Improved Player
- SG Dyson Daniels – 2024-2025 Most Improved Player
- SF Naji Marshall – undrafted in New Orleans and now starting in Dallas
- PG Jose Alvarad – undrafted in New Orleans and now a key bench player for New York
Bryson Graham does indeed have a sharp eye for talent.
That list tells us a couple of things. First, Graham was tasked with digging deep as a scout to find potential hidden gems. Most of those players were either later draft picks or undrafted free agents. The fact that some of them didn’t find success in New Orleans isn’t Graham’s fault. It is proof that the developmental culture in that organization remains lacking. It is why incredible talents like Anthony Davis and Zion Williamson never reached their full potential there. Yet the moment some of those players left for better teams, they blossomed.
This proves that Graham knows how to find the talent. What he must do is avoid the trap that the Pelicans never dug out of. That is finding the right coaching staff capable of turning his players into true NBA professionals. One thing is clear. The Bulls seem to have hired the right man for the job ahead. Graham couldn’t ask for a better setup. He has two 1st round picks in the upcoming draft and the most cap space in the league. If he manages those resources well, he could turn this team around quickly.
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Graham will chart his course with that first pick.
One thing I’ve always believed is true for any sport, not just basketball, is that you can tell a lot about how an executive’s tenure will go by their first draft pick. Jerry Krause selected Charles Oakley. John Paxson took Kirk Hinrich. Gar Forman landed James Johnson and Taj Gibson, while Arturas Karnisovas took Patrick Williams. It paints a clear picture of who had the best eye for talent. That is the challenge facing Bryson Graham. If he wants to get this team back to relevance, he must score with that first pick.
Right now, the Bulls are slotted into the 9th spot for the upcoming draft lottery. They have a 20.3% chance of jumping into the top four and a 4.5% chance of hitting #1 overall. With a little luck, they can climb a few spots up the board, giving them a better chance of landing a difference-maker. From what we know about Graham, he likes players with long arms and versatility to play multiple positions. If that remains true, keep an eye on names like Cameron Boozer, Caleb Wilson, Brayden Burries, and Yaxel Lendeborg.
