Frequently Asked Questions
Why did the Chicago Bulls fire Arturas Karnisovas?
Karnisovas was fired after six years because he did a poor job evaluating talent and stubbornly refused to rebuild the team. The Bulls were stuck in mediocrity, unable to tank for a top pick or compete seriously in the Eastern Conference. He also ignored his scouts' warnings against certain players, including the 2020 selection of Patrick Williams.
Who is Bryson Graham and where did he come from?
Bryson Graham is the Bulls' new VP of Basketball Operations, hired to replace Karnisovas. He spent most of his career with the New Orleans Pelicans and came into the job with a strong reputation for scouting.
What is Bryson Graham's vision for rebuilding the Chicago Bulls?
Graham wants to build a team with size, length, athleticism, and a physical style of play, similar to what worked for the New York Knicks. His plan is to develop younger players like Zach Wilson and Matas Buzelis while staying mindful of the standings and not sacrificing future assets.
What moves did the Bulls make in free agency under Bryson Graham?
The Bulls signed forward Norman Powell to a two-year, $45 million deal and re-signed center Zach Collins for two years, $17 million. They also acquired center Nic Claxton in a trade from the Brooklyn Nets, with both Powell's and Collins' deals including team options in the second year.
How is the culture inside the Bulls organization different under Bryson Graham?
Staffers describe the vibe as drastically different, with more open communication and collaborative meetings about the draft, free agency, and coaching hires. One basketball operations staffer told ESPN the front office is no longer operating under a cloak of secrecy where employees found out about decisions through news alerts.
Erik Lambert
I’m a football writer with more than 15 years covering the Chicago Bears. I hold a master’s degree in the Teaching of Writing from Columbia College Chicago, and my work on Sports Mockery has earned more than twenty million views. I focus on providing analysis, context, and reporting on Bears strategy, roster decisions, and team developments, and I’ve shared insight on 670 The Score, ESPN 1000, and football podcasts in the U.S. and Europe.
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