The list for Michael Reinsdorf was a long one.
In discussing why he and the others atop the Bulls organization opted to fill the vacant executive vice president of basketball operations chair by hiring Bryson Graham, “elite talent evaluator” came out of Reinsdorf’s mouth more than once.
With good reason.
The team president witnessed a series of swings and misses from the previous regime in that department, and enough was enough.
“It doesn’t matter what we do up there (in the management suites),” Reinsdorf said last week. “If the players can’t play, we’re not going to be successful. One thing that came out clearly is (Graham) is an elite talent evaluator, understands today’s players, disciplined in his approach.”
And now thanks to Sunday’s NBA Draft Lottery results, Graham knows when and where that first test will look like and has serious talent to pick from.
Defying the draft odds that said the Bulls only had a 20.3% to jump into the top four, they did just that landing No. 4.
The good news for Graham is that he’ll have two bites at a very ripe and talented apple, also holding the No. 15 pick from Portland. In landing No. 4, however, that means a stab at the likes of an AJ Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson, Cameron Boozer and Caleb Wilson – each considered to be immediate organizational talent changers, while there is a slight drop in the 2026 Class after that.
The key word – slight.
It will be Graham’s job to make sure to limit the perceived talent discrepancy at No. 15, as well as jumpstarting the rebuild process come draft day on June 23-24.
Sunday was a great first step in doing that.
“At the end of the day it still comes down to talent evaluation,” Reinsdorf said. “We still have to build the right team. We need to build this into a sustainable contender. We need the Bulls to be relevant again.
“We are committed to doing this right. We’re going to build a foundation. We are going to elevate this organization, we are going to make our fans proud again.”
MOCK DRAFT (with the addition of pick No. 15 for the Bulls)
1. Wizards: AJ Dybantsa, F, BYU
In a few years, there’s a real possibility that Peterson turns out to be a better pro, especially in the scoring department, but Dybantsa is the safer pick and seems destined for stardom. Is he 2025 No. 1 pick Cooper Flagg? No, but he’s instant impact.
2. Jazz: Darryn Peterson, G/F, Kansas
After destroying the likes of Dybantsa and Cameron Boozer back in his senior year in high school, it felt like he took over the class, but an odd season with the Jayhawks in missing games and halves left more questions than answers. Still, an elite talent.
3. Grizzlies: Cameron Boozer, F, Duke
Maybe the safest pick in the entire draft because it feels like the son of former Bull, Carlos Boozer, has the fundamentals and mindset to be a double-double machine for the next decade. There are very few holes in his game and he gives Memphis the toughness they like up front.
4. BULLS: Caleb Wilson, F/C, North Carolina
Wilson will have a chance to jump up on draft boards the next few weeks and it wouldn’t surprise anyone if he goes No. 2. But his fit for what the Bulls need is perfect on both ends of the floor and he fits Graham’s player profile.
5. Clippers: Darius Acuff Jr., G, Arkansas
While his size (6-foot-3) has been pointed to as a negative, Acuff is a bucket every time he touches the ball. He’s a scorer at all three levels but has some serious deficiencies on the defensive end that he needs to work on. LA has a new scoring star.
6. Nets: Keaton Wagler, G, Illinois
No player in the top 10 made a bigger jump than the Illinois product this season, showing an ability to knock down the outside shot and be a solid decision maker with the ball. Think a poor man’s Kon Knueppel.
7. Kings: Kingston Flemings, G, Houston
It’s time for Sacramento to start moving away from Zach LaVine – yes, he has one more year – as well as adding a guard with two-way ability. Enter Flemings, who can be explosive on the offensive end and fits the defensive mindset that Sacramento needs to grasp at.
8. Hawks: Mikel Brown Jr., G, Louisville
Brown has displayed top five talent when he plays – and that was the concern – the amount of time he didn’t. Back issues put a damper on Brown’s season but could be a huge addition to an already playoff-caliber roster.
9. Mavericks: Brayden Burries, G, Arizona
A physical guard that can shoot and rebound? Flagg has a chance to be the face of the league as the next elite two-way player and Burries could be a great Robin to Flagg’s Batman someday.
10. Bucks: Yaxel Lendeborg, F, Michigan
The fact that the National Championship’s standout player is already 23 years old might scare off a few teams, but with a willingness to compete on both ends of the floor and a 7-4 wingspan, it can be overlooked for a plug-and-play talent.
11. Warriors: Karim Lopez, F, New Zealand Breakers
There’s not a lot of miles on Lopez, as he could be the first non-college player off the board. Golden State was hoping for lottery luck but now they need to make sure they evaluate the overseas talent correctly and like what Lopez offers up.
12. Thunder: Nate Ament, F, Tennessee
Ament has the talent to be a top seven pick but could also be a swing-and-miss. Which means if OKC gambles on him he’ll likely be an All-Star in four years.
13. Heat: Chris Cenac Jr., F/C, Houston
The big might be a reach at No. 13 but a fresh dose of some “Heat Culture” might be just what he needs to continue growing in the physicality department.
14. Hornets: Jayden Quaintance, C, Kentucky
Pre-ACL injury, Quaintance was a human flyswatter at the rim. Because Charlotte has two first-round picks they can gamble that Quaintance can be their rim protector of the future.
15. BULLS: Aday Mara, C, Michigan
A potential frontcourt of Mara, Wilson and Matas Buzelis has a ring to it, and one that can be lethal in a few years on both ends of the floor.