It’s not like the honeymoon came to a screeching halt for Bulls executive vice president Bryson Graham in the second round of the NBA Draft.
Call it a small disagreement with a few hours of the silent treatment.
After earning the right to thump his chest a bit as a Round 1 winner with the additions of Caleb Wilson at No. 4 and Dailyn Swain at No. 15, momentum died a slow death in the second round when Graham selected Purdue guard Braden Smith 38th overall, then traded him to the Pacers for guard Kam Jones. And before that, the Bulls traded the 56th overall pick to the Lakers for cash considerations, which are always a fan favorite.
Maybe Graham truly saw something in Jones that felt like a fit. Maybe he didn’t like the prospects later in the second round and saw financial opportunity.
Was there an opening to trade both second-rounders and a sweetener future second-rounder to move up for shooters Richie Saunders, Isaiah Evans or Meleek Thomas? Maybe not.
Either way, Graham can fall back on the idea that free agency tips off in less than a week, and he comes to the table with $31 million in chips in a market in which few players are untouchable.
So does that put the Bulls in the winners category with the draft in the rearview mirror? Sure. Coming out of any draft with a player who has a ceiling of franchise game-changer and another pick who could be a solid starter is always a win.
Draft winners
Grizzlies — Memphis felt like a team of players that needed to be on an episode of “Scared Straight” a few years back, but now the Grizzlies are coming out of the swamp with a new look thanks to the draft.
Picking Cameron Boozer No. 3 was a no-brainer, then landing Karim Lopez (No. 21) was sneaky good.
The oh-by-the-way came Wednesday, however, when they landed grindy Isaiah Stewart in a trade with the Pistons.
Thunder, Spurs — The Western powerhouses were playing chess the entire draft. Oklahoma City selected 7-3 Aday Mara to combat San Antonio’s resident alien, Victor Wembanyama, only to see the Spurs counter with size of their own by adding athletic, shot-blocking big Jayden Quaintance and Tarris Reed Jr.
Dusty May — The former Michigan coach was given the Mavericks job Monday, and 24 hours later, his influence was obvious, as the Mavs reunited Morez Johnson Jr. with his college coach. Johnson is a relentless physical presence who can team perfectly with Cooper Flagg.
Darius Acuff Jr. — The Kings wanted the electric scoring point guard, and, surprisingly, Acuff wanted the Kings. There were more than a few scratching heads when the Nets passed on Acuff at No. 6, but the best player in the SEC last year found a home and is the first key piece in the rebuild.
The good news for Acuff is that Zach LaVine is in the final year of his deal, and Sacramento is trying to move DeMar DeRozan. By this time next summer, it will be Acuff’s team.
76ers — With each draft the last few years, Philadelphia moves further away from relying on oft-injured Joel Embiid and bolsters its backcourt. Tyrese Maxey is an All-Star, VJ Edgecombe was a first-team All-Rookie selection and taking Labaron Philon Jr. with the 22nd pick was a steal.
Draft losers
Pelicans — New Orleans was still paying for the unprotected first-round pick it handed to the Hawks to move up and grab Derik Queen, especially if No. 8 pick Kingston Flemings ends up being a dude. That left the basement-dwelling Pels with one second-round pick, and they used it on guard Jaron Pierre Jr. at No. 58.
If this thing is going to get out of the mud, a major reset has to take place during the free-agent period.
Embracers of chaos — For those who tuned into the draft expecting a lot of big-name players on the move and teams going off script with their selections, well, there was a lot of disappointment. The top four picks went as expected, no one reached until the late 20s of the first round and there were no players who suffered a wild free fall.
Nuggets — Nikola Jokic’s team felt like a dynasty in the making only a few years ago, but the new CBA and apron issues have made Denver an afterthought in Western Conference playoff discussions. Then with a loaded ’26 draft class, the Nuggets only had second-round assets to cash in. Trevon Brazile could be a nice rotation player someday, but the talent gap is widening, and it isn’t going Denver’s way.
Ace Bailey — The Jazz guard averaged 18.3 points in the last 23 games of the season and was given the green light as he started 61 of the 72 games he played in. That green light might have just turned red — or at least yellow — with Utah drafting Darryn Peterson at No. 2.
Bailey likely will come off the bench now when the team is at full strength unless Peterson can develop into a point guard.
Suns — There’s a chance Koa Peat turns into the player he was supposed to be as a freshman for Arizona, but he’s also a guy who thought about returning to school for another year. He made it into the first round — barely — at No. 30, but Phoenix did little to improve its life in the Western Conference.