The Chicago Bulls and new executive vice president Bryson Graham have a lot of things to figure out this offseason. Graham was hired last month to be the Bulls’ top decision maker after spending last season with the Atlanta Hawks as their senior vice president.
Bulls Looking To Make Move Up or Down In 2026 Draft?
Graham helped turn the Hawks into the team that won the most games (46) since 2015-16. He is also known for his keen scouting eye.
“We’re excited to name Bryson Graham as our executive vice president of basketball operations. Bryson is an elite talent evaluator who has earned tremendous respect across the league, and that stood out immediately during our process,” Bulls president and chief executive officer Michael Reinsdorf said at Graham’s press conference.
Before his lone season in Atlanta, Graham held many titles with the New Orleans Pelicans from 2010, getting promoted to assistant general manager in 2019 and general manager in 2024. He helped the Pelicans make several big-time draft selections: Trey Murphy III (drafted 17th), Herbert Jones (35th), Dyson Daniels (eighth) and Nickeil Alexander-Walker (17th).
Graham’s tremendous draft record is outstanding news for the Bulls. Chicago owns the No. 4 and No. 15 picks in the first round. They also hold the No. 38 and No. 56 in the second round.
What Are The Bulls’ Needs?
Chicago is undergoing a complete reset, with hiring a head coach among Graham’s primary goals over the next week or so. The Bulls are reportedly in the initial stage of their coaching. Some of the names that the Bulls are reportedly interested in are BYU head coach Kevin Young, Wes Unseld Jr. (Bulls assistant), Micah Nori (Minnesota Timberwolves assistant), Tiago Splitter (Portland Trail Blazers HC), Johnie Bryant (Cleveland Cavaliers assistant), Jerry Stackhouse (Golden State Warriors assistant), and Lamar Skeeter (Charlotte Hornets assistant)
Sam Smith of Bulls.com said that he believes the Bulls may hire a coach by the middle of the month.
“Sounds like mid-June, which is enough time before the Draft, though the coach usually doesn’t have much to do with that,” Smith said.
Chicago has 10 players under contract in 2026 with a salary cap hit of $93.6 million. Two of those players, Mouhamadou Guye ($2.4 million) and Leonard Miller ($2.4 million), have club options. Miller, who has been extremely efficient in his NBA career, stepped up his production after the Bulls acquired him at the trade deadline from Minnesota. The 22-year-old averaged 11.7 points and 5.8 rebounds with shooting splits of 55.5/35.6/76.2.
“The Bulls have $2.4 million team options on Miller and Gueye,” Joe Crowley of the Chicago Sun-Times opined when talking about the Bulls’ forwards. “Miller played well enough to have his option picked up and get a serious look as a rotation player.”
“[Matas] Buzelis and [Noa] Essengue are on rookie deals, so they aren’t going anywhere,” Crowley continued. “Then there’s [Patrick] Williams and his unmovable contract (three years and $54 million left). After that, no one is guaranteed to return. [Isaac] Okoro has one year left on his deal and would be a defensive finishing piece on a playoff team, and [Jalen] Smith has $9.4 million left on an expiring deal and would be an ideal acquisition for some stretch help. [Guerschon] Yabusele will be elsewhere.
In addition to Buzelis and Essengue, Josh Giddey is part of the Bulls’ core, while Rob Dillingham will likely be back in the backcourt. Giddey has manned the point a good part of the last two seasons, and while the Bulls project to run most of their offense through the Australian, he may be best suited for the two. Dillingham was the most productive of his career after being acquired from the Wolves, though he wasn’t overly efficient.
The bottom line is that the Bulls are starting over, have lots of areas of need, and have about $70 million in cap space this offseason. A starting point guard or elite 2-way guard is the Bulls’ biggest need to go alongside Giddey. The Bulls also need to add shooting with a specific eye on “3-and-D” wings. They will also likely build up their draft capital.
Bulls Looking To Make Move Up or Down In 2026 Draft?
Chicago is projected to take Caleb Wilson or Cam Boozer, if he were to drop, with the No. 4 pick. Both players are intriguing prospects and would allow Buzelis to play his more natural 3 more often.
According to Julia Poe of the Chicago Tribune, Wilson projects to have the highest athletic upside of the projected top four draft picks, as he is an explosive finisher and an elite motor. More importantly, his length and mobility allow him to be a switchable, high-impactful defender who can protect the rim and recover when in a help position.
Offensively, Wilson is capable of being more than just a lob threat. The 19-year-old can get to the rim and has shown the ability to score at the mid-post, with turnaround jumpers being his bread and butter. He is also an outstanding offensive rebounder with some face-up potential. However, his jumper still needs work.
Meanwhile, Boozer, if he somehow falls out of the top three, is the ideal fit for the Bulls, or for the Bulls if they move up in the draft. Multiple outlets previously reported that the Bulls have been in contact with the Washington Wizards about the No. 1 overall pick. Boozer’s combination of strength, touch, IQ, and versatility is exactly what the teams lack. The Duke product can be a primary or secondary scorer. During the NBA combine, he said he wouldn’t mind playing in Chicago.
Cameron Boozer oozing confidence at the NBA Draft Combine: “If your team’s goal is to win a championship, I think I’m the guy.”
Says he had a “good conversation” with the Bulls (who his dad Carlos played for), and “it would be nice” to end up here.@cbschicago pic.twitter.com/zG5FsFfXG6— Matt Zahn (@mattzahnsports) May 13, 2026
The Bulls are Seriously Considering Trading the No. 4 or No. 15 Picks
However, neither Boozer nor Wilson has gone through individual workouts with the Bulls. Moreover, the Bulls have been focusing most of their workouts on guards. Thus, begging the question whether the Bulls are interested in moving down from the No. 4 pickand/orr up from the No. 15 selection.
One of the guards who has worked out recently for the Bulls is Darius Acuff Jr, who is projected to be a top-8 pick, per Bleacher Report’s Jonathan Wasserman. Acuff was at the Bulls facility yesterday.
Darius Acuff Jr. is in Chicago today working out for the Bulls, per source. Worked out for the Nets on Wednesday and has the Jazz and Bucks next. Lot of scenarios in play for Acuff as a potential top-5 pick and trade up/back target.
— Jonathan Wasserman (@NBADraftWass) June 5, 2026
Acuff had one of the most productive freshman seasons by a guard in NCAA history, as he could score from anywhere. He is very skilled and doesn’t make many mistakes. However, there are questions about his defense. Keaton Wagler, Kingston Flemings, and Mikel Brown Jr. are other guards who don’t project to be around by the time the Bulls make their second pick at No. 15. Nate Ament and Morez Johnson Jr. are bigs who are projected mid-first-round picks who have also worked out for the team.
“Should be a great Draft night,” Smith said when answering whether the Bulls are considering trading No. 4 or No. 15 picks. The latter part seems due diligence since you never know who’ll suddenly begin to fall, as Matas did to 11 when a week before that 2024 Draft he supposedly was a sure top five; maybe seven, but not likely. Just about every mock draft has Caleb Wilson to the Bulls at No. 4. “The wild card, to me, is Utah at No. 2, in part because it’s also Danny Ainge, who has a history of Draft Day surprises. The Jazz have tanked themselves to a heck of a talented roster,” Smith continued.
Other Players Who Have Worked Out With the Bulls
Photo credit: David Banks, Imagn Images via Reuters Connect
