Bryson Graham has a definitive timeline of how he wants his business conducted.
The key word being his.
The Bulls’ new executive vice president of basketball operations has shown an ability to be methodical and meticulous at the same time.
That’s why there have been so many candidates talked to about the head coaching vacancy – both in person at the Advocate Center the last few weeks and in phoners that started the process weeks ago.
That’s also why the two practice courts at the facility have looked like a guard camp for NBA prospects the last few weeks, as Graham and the developmental staff have worked out the likes of Illinois’ Keaton Wagler, Houston’s Kingston Flemings, Louisville’s Mikel Brown Jr., Arkansas’ Darius Acuff Jr., and Stanford quick-climber Ebuka Okorie, to name a few.
None will likely influence the Bulls’ first pick at No. 4 but all of them come in play at No. 15 – the team’s second first-round pick – in case there’s an unexpected slide for one of them or the Bulls want to jump up a few spots.
It’s that latter scenario that is gaining momentum, according to a source, as Graham has a gluttony of second-round draft assets to use, even if it means moving up a spot or two to get his guy.
First things first, as the Bulls will have a coach in place well before the two-day NBA Draft begins on June 23, likely done by next week at the latest.
According to a source, one known in the coaching search is the Wes Unseld Jr. interview wasn’t done as just a favor for the current Bulls’ assistant. He is a finalist and has impressed throughout the process. Unseld, however, is not alone.
Timberwolves assistant Micah Nori – Nori has been linked to the Bulls even before there was a definitive VP in place for the organization, considered the right-hand man for Minnesota coach Chris Finch and a long-time assistant that has climbed the ranks the right way.
Starting in baseball, Nori moved to the NBA coaching ranks in 2009, taking a gig with Toronto. He has since had assistant coaching stints in Sacramento, Denver, Detroit and then moved to Minnesota in 2021, eventually being recognized as the top assistant coach in the league in 2024 as voted on by general managers.
Trail Blazers interim coach Tiago Splitter – While there is a certain amount of unknown with Nori and Hawks assistant Ryan Schmidt, Splitter already has a sample size as an NBA head coach and an impressive one at that. A former NBA Championship player with the Spurs, Splitter became as assistant in Brooklyn back in 2019, eventually working his way to Portland.
He became the team’s head coach earlier this season, inheriting a complete mess in the wake of former head man Chauncey Billups arrested in connection with an illegal gambling investigation. All Splitter did was refocus a young team to getting in the play-in and beating Phoenix to become a playoff team.
Portland has flirted with keeping him, but a source told the Sun-Times that his former organization has also been making offers to other coaches in the process.
Hawks assistant coach Ryan Schmidt – Coming from the Atlanta organization, Graham has a real comfort level with Schmidt, especially because Graham was tight with Hawks head coach Quin Snyder, so knew exactly how that coaching staff functioned on a daily basis.
Schmidt has limited head coaching experience, serving as head coach in the G League and for the British Basketball League, but is considered to be really strong in player development, which was a focus of Graham’s.