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 coaching vacancy — both in person at the Advocate Center the last few weeks and in phone interviews that started the process weeks ago.
That’s also why the two practice courts at the facility have looked like a camp for NBA prospects the last few weeks, as Graham and the developmental staff have worked out
Illinois’ Keaton Wagler, Houston’s Kingston Flemings, Louisville’s Mikel Brown Jr.,
Arkansas’ Darius Acuff Jr. and Stanford quick-climber Ebuka Okorie, among others.
None likely will influence the Bulls’ first pick at No. 4, but all of them could come into play at No. 15 — the team’s second first-round pick — in case there’s an unexpected slide for one 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 just a spot or two to get his guy.
But first things first, as the Bulls need to have a coach in place well before the two-day NBA Draft begins June 23, and that likely will be done by next week at the latest.
According to a source, one known in the coaching search is that 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.
• Minnesota assistant Micah Nori
Nori has been linked to the Bulls even before there was a definitive VP in place for the organization. He is considered the right-hand man to Timberwolves coach Chris Finch and a longtime assistant who has climbed the ranks the right way.
Starting in baseball, Nori moved to the NBA coaching ranks in 2009 with Toronto. He since has had assistant coaching stints in Sacramento, Denver and Detroit before moving to Minnesota in 2021 and eventually being recognized as the top assistant coach in the league in 2024 as voted on by GMs.
• Atlanta assistant Ryan Schmidt
Coming from the Hawks organization, Graham has a real comfort level with Schmidt, especially because Graham was tight with Hawks coach Quin Snyder, so he knew exactly how that coaching staff functioned on a daily basis.
Schmidt has limited head-coaching experience, serving as 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.
• Portland interim coach Tiago Splitter
While there is a certain amount of unknown with Nori and Schmidt, Splitter already has a sample size as an NBA coach and an impressive one at that. A former NBA champion with the Spurs, Splitter became as assistant in Brooklyn back in 2019 before eventually working his way to the Trail Blazers.
He became the team’s coach earlier this season, inheriting a complete mess in the wake of former coach Chauncey Billups’ arrest in connection with an illegal gambling investigation. All Splitter did was refocus a young team to earn a play-in berth and then beat Phoenix to become a playoff team.
Portland has flirted with keeping him, but a source told the Sun-Times that his former organization also has been making offers to other coaches in the process.
