The Chicago Bulls have moved on from their old regime after a string of poor draft decisions culminated in passing on an All-NBA point guard. Arturas Karnisovas and Marc Eversley were let go this offseason, replaced by Bryson Graham, who has already shown a willingness to break from the past — including using the fourth overall pick on Caleb Wilson in the 2024 draft.

What went wrong under Karnisovas and Eversley?

The old regime’s worst draft mistake came in 2020, when they chose Patrick Williams over Tyrese Haliburton. Multiple executives inside the organization pushed hard for Haliburton, a 6-foot-5 guard from Iowa State whose funky jump shot masked elite playmaking and efficiency. Sources told ESPN’s Jamal Collier that analytics and scouting staffers pleaded with Karnisovas and Eversley to look past the mechanics and focus on the results. Instead, the Bulls took Williams, who has averaged under 10 points per game over his career, while Haliburton developed into a top-10 player and led the Indiana Pacers to the NBA Finals.

But the fallout wasn’t just about the pick. Staffers told ESPN that the old regime often ignored internal feedback, developing tunnel vision when they liked a player. Their refusal to listen became an early red flag, signaling deeper issues in decision-making and communication. The Bulls finished the 2025-26 season with the sixth-worst offense in the NBA, and their last result was a 149-128 loss to the Dallas Mavericks on April 13, 2026. Their recent form over the last five games was 1W-0D-4L, with losses to four straight opponents.

How Bryson Graham is changing the approach

Graham has taken a different path from day one. He drafted Caleb Wilson, who impressed in Summer League, and hired Tiago Splitter as head coach after Splitter guided the Portland Trail Blazers to the playoffs. The new regime is building around a young core that includes Wilson, Josh Giddey, and Matas Buzelis. Graham knows the rebuild won’t be quick — the Bulls have been stuck in the middle for years, and their offensive struggles have kept them from playoff contention.

The key now is fixing the offense. Last season’s inefficiency cost them dearly, and turning those numbers around will decide whether this group can climb back into the playoff picture. Graham’s early moves suggest he’s prioritizing player development and staff input over rigid preferences.

What’s next for the Bulls?

The slow rebuild is underway. Wilson’s development will be the first major test for Graham’s draft philosophy. Splitter’s system and the young trio’s growth will determine how fast Chicago can escape the bottom half of the league. The front office isn’t rushing, but they’re also not repeating past mistakes — at least not yet.