Each offseason brings plenty of movement. Some years more than others, but the thing that makes it most thrilling is the unexpected nature. It's too risky to get comfortable in a position in the NBA, and that applies to not only players, but to front office members. Atlanta suffered a significant front office loss on Monday evening.
According to ESPN's Shams Charania, "The Chicago Bulls are hiring Atlanta Hawks senior vice president Bryson Graham as the franchise's new Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations." Graham leaves after just one year with the Hawks, and despite his tenure being short-lived, his impact will be missed dearly.
Graham made observing draft targets and free agents a simple process
One of the most difficult things to do in the NBA is put together a squad built for sustained success. It's hard to craft a contender, and while Graham hasn't done it just yet, he's done all the right things to get there. This Hawks team is just a few pieces away thanks to the work he and General Manager Onsi Saleh were able to execute.
Even before his Hawks tenure, Graham identified a key player that he eventually followed. He worked his way up the ranks with the New Orleans Pelicans, eventually taking over as general manager. In 2022, he was part of the scouting team that recognized the talent of Dyson Daniels.
Big loss for the Hawks.
— Zach Langley (@ZachLangleyNBA) May 4, 2026
As soon as he was mentioned as a candidate, the writing was on the wall.
Absolutely deserves this promotion. https://t.co/KBKfVRX6wb
While Saleh was the lead decision-maker in Atlanta last season, Graham played a big part in the decisions they made. He was the team's top executive under Saleh, and his track record with being on the right side of history made this an easy transition.
A guy working his way up from an intern to a general manager of an organization is nothing to ignore. When everyone began pondering who would take over as Chicago's executive vice president of basketball operations, Graham's candidacy was a no-brainer.
Onsi Saleh now has a much bigger responsibility this summer
Can he put together another brilliant offseason as the organization's lead decision-maker, even with one of his most trusted executives gone? The Hawks will likely begin their search for Graham's replacement soon, and while there's good reason to believe they'll nail the hire, it's no guarantee. Saleh has his work cut out for him.
Hawks fans should hope that Graham's ability to identify high-level talent carries over, even in this new tenure. Sometimes, all it takes is a year with a guy to pick up some of his traits. With the Bulls being an opponent the Hawks see often, they also need to hope he doesn't speed up their rebuild and put together a contender.
Best of luck, Bryson.
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