The Chicago Bulls finally pulled the plug on nearly three decades of mediocrity. Following another dismal campaign that extended a barren run of just one playoff series victory in ten years, ownership executed a total front-office teardown on April 6, 2026. President of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas and general manager Marc Eversley were fired out of the blue. That cleared the deck for a completely new vision. That vision now belongs to Bryson Graham.
Hired on May 4, 2026, the former Pelicans general manager and Atlanta Hawks executive wasted no time reshaping the organization as the new executive vice president of basketball operations. His defining early move came on the sidelines. After conducting 12 video interviews and four in-person meetings, Graham secured his head coach. He formally introduced Tiago Splitter on June 17, according to an AP News report confirming Tiago Splitter’s official introductory press conference and Billy Donovan’s resignation. Donovan chose to walk away rather than endure a full rebuild under new management. Splitter arrives in Chicago having just guided the Portland Trail Blazers through a turbulent interim season to a 42-40 record and a playoff berth.
The momentum carried straight into the draft lottery. During Graham’s first week on the job, the Bulls jumped five spots to secure the No. 4 overall pick. They used it to select highly touted North Carolina forward Caleb Wilson. The rookie is already turning heads. Wilson debuted in the Las Vegas Summer League last week and immediately dropped 35 points. That performance marks the second-highest scoring debut for a rookie since the Vegas event began two decades ago.
Graham wasn’t done retooling the roster. He aggressively utilized Chicago’s available cap space to acquire elite rim protector Nic Claxton in a three-team blockbuster trade. The deal shipped Julius Randle to the Brooklyn Nets, as outlined in a Sports Illustrated piece detailing Bryson Graham’s first major transaction acquiring Nic Claxton. That swap instantly anchors the Bulls’ defense with youth while shedding Randle’s veteran timeline entirely.
Meanwhile, the ousted architect of the previous regime landed on his feet. Former executive Arturas Karnisovas has been hired directly by the NBA. He will advise Commissioner Adam Silver on international league expansion and strategies for bridging the gap with European competitions.
The Verdict: The Chicago Bulls are finally operating with a clear, modernized rebuilding strategy. By hiring a proven interim coach in Tiago Splitter, securing a top-tier rookie talent in Caleb Wilson, and acquiring Nic Claxton to anchor the paint, Bryson Graham has successfully injected desperately needed youth and direction into a franchise that spent the last six years completely spinning its wheels.