Bulls receive approval to conduct interviews for front office positions.
The Chicago Bulls have initiated the process of finding their new head of basketball operations, having obtained permission to interview Timberwolves GM Matt Lloyd, Pistons senior vice president Dennis Lindsey, Hawks senior vice president Bryson Graham, Cavaliers GM Mike Gansey, and Spurs assistant GM Dave Telep, sources informed ESPN on Monday.
The Bulls are also anticipated to engage with Austin Brown, co-head of CAA’s basketball division, concerning the open position, sources indicated to ESPN.
Interviews are projected to commence this week, sources noted, with the organization aiming to appoint its new decision-maker either just before or shortly after the mid-May draft combine.
Two weeks ago, the Bulls executed significant front office changes, dismissing executive vice president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas and general manager Marc Eversley on April 6, following a six-year period that yielded only one playoff appearance.
Ownership has expressed a clear intention to retain head coach Billy Donovan under any circumstances.
“If I interview someone and they’re not sold on Billy, they’re not sold on a Hall of Fame coach; they’re not sold on a person who’s won championships in college, who’s gone deep in the playoffs with Oklahoma City,” Bulls CEO and president Michael Reinsdorf stated on April 7. “… If Billy wants to be our coach and someone’s not interested in that, then they’re probably not the right candidate for us.”
Donovan later remarked that he is not placing too much significance on the endorsement.
“I think Michael was making the point of how he felt about me,” Donovan commented regarding Reinsdorf’s remarks. “But I also understand that, like I said, everybody’s got to look out for what is best for the Bulls at that point in time.”
Reinsdorf mentioned that the Bulls intend to broaden their search for basketball operations compared to the one that resulted in Karnisovas’s hiring in 2020, and the team has compiled a list of candidates with diverse experiences throughout the league.
Lloyd spent 17 years in Chicago (1995-2012) in various basketball operations and scouting capacities before serving as assistant GM of the Orlando Magic for a decade. Since 2022, Lloyd has been the primary aide to Timberwolves president Tim Connelly and plays a crucial role in the daily operations for the reigning two-time Western Conference finalists.
Lindsey has been with the Pistons since the beginning of the 2024-25 season, yet he possesses 30 years of experience in front office and scouting roles. He spent 11 seasons with the Utah Jazz, where he was general manager for seven years and served two seasons as VP of basketball operations. Lindsey also held a position as senior adviser for the Dallas Mavericks during the 2023-24 season, when the Mavericks reached the Finals.
Graham joined the Hawks after a 15-season tenure with the New Orleans Pelicans (2010-25), where he advanced from an intern to general manager. Throughout his executive career, Graham has been recognized for his exceptional scouting abilities, contributing to successful draft selections and player acquisitions.
Gansey has been the general manager for the Cavaliers under team president Koby Altman since February 2022, assisting in the franchise’s resurgence as a contender in the East after progressing from assistant general manager and overseeing the Cavs G-League team.
Telep has been with the Spurs for 13 seasons, holding various positions including vice president of basketball operations, director of player personnel, and director of scouting. Prior to joining the Spurs’ front office, he served as the senior national recruiting analyst for ESPN.com and was a sideline reporter for ESPNU.
Brown, recognized on the 2015 Forbes 30 Under 30 list and included in Sports Business Journal’s Forty Under 40 list in 2020 as a respected agent, has received multiple front office offers in recent years. He was approached for the GM role by the Bulls during their 2020 search under Karnisovas, sources revealed.
Currently, Brown represents prominent NBA players such as Donovan Mitchell, Jaren Jackson Jr., Cooper Flagg, Trae Young, and OG Anunoby, among others.
In the past 15 years, Bob Myers (Golden State Warriors, 2011), Rob Pelinka (Los Angeles Lakers, 2017), and Leon Rose (New York Knicks, 2020) have successfully transitioned from accomplished agents to significant top team executives.
