The Chicago Bulls' official rebuild has begun under executive vice president Bryson Graham and head coach Tiago Splitter. The new leadership outlined their patient, step-by-step vision at Monday's Media Day, aiming to build a championship foundation without skipping stages.
Bryson Graham and Tiago Splitter are in charge of the franchise's next chapter. They want to make this rebuild engaging for fans and competitive on the court from day one. "Just because the word rebuild is out there doesn't mean that this can't be fun, this can't be exciting," Graham told reporters. He stressed the importance of setting high standards immediately, even if wins take time to materialize. The goal is to lay a brick by brick foundation for a title contender in Chicago.
Their approach is dual-faceted, using both the draft and strategic veteran signings. Recent lottery picks like Caleb Wilson (4th overall) and Dailyn Swain (15th) join young core pieces Matas Buzelis, Josh Giddey, Noa Essengue, and Leonard Miller. Graham has also added experienced players Norman Powell, Nic Claxton, and Buddy Hield to guide that youth. Many of those vets are on expiring or option deals, giving the Bulls trade flexibility later.
The league's adjusted draft lottery rules now reward teams for finishing in the middle of the standings more than at the very bottom. This shift discourages outright tanking. It's a big reason why Chicago, along with teams like Washington and Utah, pursued veteran talent this offseason. Graham explained the thinking behind the short term contracts. "This summer, it's been about not mortgaging our future and keeping optionality and flexibility going forward," he said.
He refused to speculate on which veterans might be traded by the deadline. Graham focused on their current value. "We're here because we're building, and they understand that," he stated. "No one's going into the season on this roster with the anticipation of, 'Am I on the chopping block today?'" The immediate task is integrating everyone to build a cohesive system.
The Bulls open training camp on Tuesday, September 29. It will be the first time the revamped roster practices together ahead of the preseason opener on October vii. The regular season tips off on October 21. This camp is the first real test of how the young players and veterans mesh on the floor.
They beat the Washington Wizards twice in April (129 98 and 119 108) but fell to the Phoenix Suns, Orlando Magic (127 103), and the Mavericks to close the year.
Graham's message is clear. This process will require patience, but the aim is to compete every night. The blend of high potential youth and tradable veterans gives the front office multiple paths forward. For now, all attention is on the court and the start of a new era for Chicago Bulls basketball.
