The 2026 NBA Draft Lottery is a week away, but the Bulls don't have a front office ready to scout prospects for a pair of top-15 picks. That could be resolved soon, though, as Chicago is reportedly ready to hire Minnesota Timberwolves GM Matt Lloyd and assistant coach Micah Nori, according to Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times.
But Cowley added an intriguing nugget of news: Boston Celtics assistant GM Dave Lewin, whom the Bulls interviewed for the position that appears set to go to Lloyd, could be hired to run the franchise's analytics department under Lloyd.
If that's how it plays out, Bulls CEO Michael Reinsdorf would make three of the most important hires in the organization's history despite only searching for one.
Bulls reportedly set to name new head of basketball operations, coach
Lloyd, along with Pistons senior vice president Dennis Lindsey, Hawks senior VP Bryson Graham, Cavaliers GM Mike Gansey and Spurs assistant GM Dave Telep were on the original list of candidates Reinsdorf pursued to replace Arturas Karnisovas and Marc Eversley.
According to Cowley, there was no leader in the clubhouse as recently as last week, but Lloyd is now considered the frontrunner and could be hired in "the next several days."
If Lloyd — a Chicago native who spent nearly 20 years in the Bulls organization — returns to the Windy City, bringing Nori along would make sense. The 52-year-old has been the lead assistant on Chris Finch's staff in Minnesota and has played a pivotal role in leading the Timberwolves to back-to-back Western Conference Finals appearances.
Cowley goes so far as to say Lloyd would "undoubtedly" make Nori the Bulls' next head coach.
Bulls could make a surprise third hire alongside Matt Lloyd, Micah Nori
Dave Lewin was a late addition to Reinsdorf's list of candidates for head of basketball operations. The current Boston Celtics assistant GM has built his career in analytics and scouting.
Now, per Cowley, Lewin is a candidate to work under Lloyd as GM and leader of the Bulls' analytics department.
Lewin has held several roles since moving to Boston in 2012, including director of scouting, GM of the G League's Maine Red Claws, director of player personnel, and now assistant GM.
The 39-year-old has helped lead a Celtics team to 12 consecutive postseason appearances, six conference finals, two NBA finals berths and the 2024 NBA Championship.
Lewin has also been part of a scouting group that drafted and built around Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum. He's worked under two Hall of Fame executives, Danny Ainge and Brad Stevens.
Landing Lloyd and Nori as a package deal would be a home run. Adding someone like Lewin to the front office would make this process a no-doubter.
Add us as a preferred source on Google