Rumors

Nevertheless, all of that Jokic slander got us thinking about which NBA All-Stars won the most playoff series against teams that had at least 50 wins in the regular season. The answer is none other than the late, great Kobe Bryant - and comfortably so. Bryant won an astounding 25 playoff series against teams that won at least 50 regular-season games that same year, three more than the next closest player, Chicago Bulls legend Scottie Pippen. Considering Bryant in total won 33 playoff series in his entire career, for 25 of those playoff series victories, amounting to roughly 76 percent, to come against 50-win teams is nearly unfathomable.

HoopsHype

Not that Reinsdorf hasn’t done that before, especially since Arturas Karnisovas did not grow on the Bulls family tree, but the narrative was Bulls hire Bulls. A source very familiar with the situation reiterated that all of the candidates that made face-to-face presentations to the Bulls last week were impressive, and that included Lloyd. Graham just stood out with his plan to build out the front office from the ground up.

Chicago Sun-Times

There is a false narrative that the Reinsdorfs don’t spend on the front office, and multiple sources have said that was not the case in the Arturas Karnisovas regime at all. Karnisovas got every hire he wanted with no pushback on money. The problem? The former front office of John Paxson and Gar Forman was old school and worked for many years as a mostly two-man operation. The league just outgrew that mentality. When Karnisovas took over more than six years ago, he did build out the front office without constraints, but it never caught up to what the rest of the Association was doing. Graham will change that. “We’ve been playing checkers and now it’s time to play chess,” a source said.

Chicago Sun-Times

As well as building out his front office and finding that Lewin type, Graham has a coaching search to conduct as well as an NBA Draft to prepare for. The lottery is on Sunday, and the Bulls currently sit at Nos. 9 and 15 in the first round. Talent evaluation has been a strength for Graham, credited for the likes of Herb Jones and Trey Murphy III while he was in New Orleans, but also showing an ability to get off of players from a cap standpoint, moving Trae Young while Graham was in Atlanta last season. The good news for the 39-year-old? Besides multiple first-round picks in a loaded 2026 class, he’ll have a league-high $58 million in cap space this summer.

Chicago Sun-Times

Donovan isn’t the only widely respected, veteran head coach who’s hoping for a return to the sidelines, though, as league sources say Tom Thibodeau is also very interested in a comeback. The 68-year-old was fired from his Knicks post last summer but is looking for the right fit for his coaching future again. And yes, league sources say, that includes the prospect of a Bulls reunion if the Reinsdorfs and new executive vice president of basketball operations Bryson Graham, who was hired away from the Atlanta Hawks on Monday, had interest.

New York Times

I was told by a Bulls employee who was on a Zoom call with Graham that his early enthusiasm is palpable, which is certainly a step up from Karnišovas, whose enthusiasm was consistently negligible. Karnišovas rarely deigned to talk to the Chicago media, but in his defense, when he did, he usually made the situation feel worse. Donovan was the real face of the organization during his six years, so it would be a nice change of pace to hear from the person making decisions.

New York Times

KC Johnson: Just spent time on phone w/ people inside but mostly outside organization on Bryson Graham hiring. Here’s sampling of comments: “Great listener” “Brings people together, a collaborator” “Straight shooter” “Knows he doesn’t have all answers and is comfortable using depth to help”

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Jon Krawczynski: Chris Finch on Matt Lloyd missing out on the Bulls job: "Congrats to Bryson Graham. I worked with Bryson in New Orleans for a number of years. He's a class act and an outstanding talent evaluator. I'm sure he will be a great pick for the Bulls. "Gunning for Matt. He's one of the best executives I've ever worked with anywhere I've been. He's an absolute rock star when it comes to that, from running processes to connecting with people in the building, to positivity to leadership, to being able to manage up and down. It's only a matter of time until he gets his chance, I'm convinced of it. These are really hard jobs to get, highly coveted. Lots of things go into them. We're fortunate to have him here and he's been a huge part of our success."

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K.C. Johnson: Point of emphasis: Bryson Graham will be given leeway/resources to build out front office as he sees fit. He does have ties to Brian Hagen and JJ Polk from New Orleans days and worked with Pat Connelly’s brother, Tim, also in New Orleans. But Graham’s call on structure/hires

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Bulls on CHSN: "One name that is a hot coaching candidate throughout the league...is Sean Sweeney." @KCJHoop gives a bit of insight as to who could be the next head coach of the Bulls:

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Joe Cowley: Some tidbits from the hiring of Bryson Graham. Pax wanted to excuse himself from the Matt Lloyd interview because of their relationship. ... Dave Lewin put on quite a show and was impressive ... table that ... Graham could still opt to go with untraditional front office look.

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The momentum the past few weeks had current Timberwolves GM – and a former long-time do-everything Bulls employee – Matt Lloyd as the favorite, but Graham reportedly stole the show in the in-person interview process and was announced as the winner on Monday.

Chicago Sun-Times

Jamal Collier: Bulls COO Michael Resindorf statement on new VP Bryson Graham. Calls him an "elite talent evaluator who has earned tremendous respect across the league, an effective communicator, a disciplined and thoughtful decision-maker, and someone who connects with players and people."

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Shams Charania: Just in: The Chicago Bulls are hiring Atlanta Hawks senior vice president Bryson Graham as the franchise's new Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations, sources tell ESPN. Graham spent 15 years in New Orleans before joining Atlanta last offseason, rising from an intern to GM, and now becomes the Bulls top executive.

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