Chicago Bulls CEO Michael Reinsdorf hired Bryson Graham as VP of basketball operations to lead a franchise rebuild starting in 2026.
Chicago Bulls CEO Michael Reinsdorf opened Wednesday's press conference introducing Bryson Graham by apologizing to fans and accepting full accountability for the team's recent struggles. 'It flows up to me and I take responsibility,' Reinsdorf stated during his opening remarks. He added, 'I do feel that today is a step in the right direction. It's an important step.' Reinsdorf emphasized that Graham's hiring marks progress for the organization.
Bryson Graham, 39, joined the Bulls as the new Vice President of basketball operations this week, becoming the team's top decision-maker. Reinsdorf praised Graham as an elite talent evaluator who progressed from intern to general manager without cutting corners during his tenure with the Atlanta Hawks and New Orleans Pelicans. The executive transition brings fresh leadership to a franchise seeking a new direction.
Graham made it clear from the start that the Bulls' path forward requires a full rebuild rather than minor upgrades. 'I'm not going to be up here in mince words and say we're further along if we just add a couple of pieces,' he explained. 'Because that's not the case.' The announcement followed a stretch where the team last won a playoff series in the 2014-15 season and made the playoffs just twice in the last ten years.
Chicago enters the 2026 draft with significant assets, holding two first-round picks along with its own lottery selection and the Portland Trail Blazers' draft choice. Graham noted the team also possesses around $60 million in salary cap space, which he plans to use creatively to shape the roster. 'We'll have to get creative with it,' Graham said regarding the financial flexibility at his disposal.
With Billy Donovan departing as head coach after the season, Graham announced he will launch the coaching search next week. He emphasized the need for a leader who adheres to strong offensive and defensive principles while developing young talent. 'Let's find the most competent and most talented people,' Graham said. 'And that could be a coach that you may not even heard of, and I might get killed for it. But if I believe in him, I'm going to hire him.'
Reinsdorf committed to empowering Graham to shape the team in his own image, guaranteeing the necessary resources to build a sustainable contender. The CEO stated Chicago will pay the luxury tax if competing for a championship, noting the franchise has done so only once in its history during the 2012-13 season. 'Bryson's going to tell us, here's what I need,' Reinsdorf said. 'If we're competing for championships, we expect that we'll probably be in the luxury tax and [we're] totally okay with that. I don't want to be in luxury tax for a team that's not in the playoffs.'