The Chicago Bulls answered perhaps their biggest question of the offseason on Monday, adding former Atlanta Hawks executive Bryson Graham to run the show as they enter a period of serious organizational turmoil.
The Bulls tore down their roster at the trade deadline, and they'll now look toward Graham, who was instrumental in the New Orleans Pelicans' acquisition of young talent over the past several seasons, to lead them out of the hole they've dug for themselves.
His first job will be finding a new head coach after the departure of Billy Donovan. Per Marc Stein, Graham is expected to seek out a younger option as opposed to one of the multiple experienced coaches currently riding the carousel.
"The Chicago Bulls also made a leadership move Monday by naming Atlanta's Bryson Graham as their new executive vice president of basketball operations, meaning both of the league's front office vacancies were filled on the same day. Among Graham's first tasks will be hiring a head coach … with a focus on younger coaches expected and San Antonio's highly rated assistant coach Sean Sweeney already forecasted in league coaching circles to be among the candidates." Marc Stein
At the same time, Sam Amick of The Athletic reported on Tuesday that Tom Thibodeau, who coached the Bulls for five seasons between 2010 and 2015, is looking for a new job and would consider a reunion in Chicago if it was offered to him.
Graham's hiring, however, has likely shut that door.
Tom Thibodeau would be a floor-raiser, but he isn't the right coach for the Bulls at this point
Thibodeau has consistently been under-appreciated throughout his career. Although his abrasive and stubborn nature can often rub players and fans the wrong way, he should certainly still have some NBA opportunities open to him even after his tenure in New York.
Some fans have used and will use this as an argument for why Chicago should be considering Thibodeau for their coaching vacancy. But the truth is that the Bulls need someone who can get the most out of their young core and aid their long-term development, and Thibodeau simply isn't that coach.
As Stein mentioned, Graham will likely seek out a younger coach such as Sean Sweeney out of San Antonio. Todd Golden, who won a national championship with Florida in 2024-25, and Micah Nori, who's been with the Minnesota Timberwolves since 2021, would also be strong candidates. This line of thinking comes with its own risks.
Although bringing in a coach from an innovative schematic background can be appealing, first-time head coaches can quickly fall flat. Bringing one in at a pivotal juncture for the franchise is a gamble no matter how you spin it.
At the same time, any prospect of Thibodeau's return would be controversial, and it should be. Thibodeau's tenure holds a lot of nostalgia for Bulls fans. But his hiring would represent an immediate step in the wrong direction in terms of what the organization needs to accomplish with its young talent.
Thankfully, it seems as though Chicago's Bryson Graham decision has already closed the door on that possibility.
Add us as a preferred source on Google