Chicago Bulls Cleared to Interview Six Front-Office Prospects, Including Five Team Executives and a Top Agent
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The Chicago Bulls have received permission to speak with six candidates for their lead basketball operations position and plan to begin interviews this week, sources told ESPN on Monday.
Team officials will meet with Minnesota Timberwolves general manager Matt Lloyd, Detroit Pistons senior vice president Dennis Lindsey, Atlanta Hawks senior vice president Bryson Graham, Cleveland Cavaliers general manager Mike Gansey, San Antonio Spurs assistant GM Dave Telep and Creative Artists Agency co-head Austin Brown, according to the sources.
The organization intends to name a new chief decision-maker shortly before or just after the mid-May NBA draft combine.
Background on the search
Chicago overhauled its front office on April 6, dismissing executive vice president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas and general manager Marc Eversley after six seasons that yielded a single playoff berth. Franchise leadership has emphasized that head coach Billy Donovan will remain, with team president Michael Reinsdorf stating on April 7 that any candidate unwilling to work with Donovan “is probably not the right fit.”
Reinsdorf also said the club would conduct a broader search than the one that brought in Karnisovas in 2020.
The candidates
Matt Lloyd spent 17 years in Chicago’s basketball operations and scouting departments (1995-2012) before a decade as assistant GM of the Orlando Magic. Since 2022 he has served as the top aide to Timberwolves president Tim Connelly, helping guide Minnesota to consecutive Western Conference finals.
Dennis Lindsey, now in Detroit, owns three decades of front-office and scouting experience. He was Utah Jazz general manager for seven seasons and vice president of basketball operations for two more. Lindsey also worked as senior adviser to the Dallas Mavericks during their 2024 Finals run.
Bryson Graham joined Atlanta following 15 seasons with the New Orleans Pelicans, where he advanced from intern to general manager and earned a reputation for strong draft and player-acquisition work.
Mike Gansey was promoted to Cavaliers GM in February 2022 under team president Koby Altman after serving as assistant GM and overseeing the club’s G League affiliate. He has helped Cleveland re-establish itself as an Eastern Conference contender.
Dave Telep is in his 13th season with San Antonio, holding roles that include vice president of basketball operations, director of player personnel and director of scouting. Before joining the Spurs he was ESPN.com’s senior national recruiting analyst and a sideline reporter for ESPNU.
Austin Brown, co-leader of CAA’s basketball division, was listed on Forbes’ 2015 “30 Under 30” and Sports Business Journal’s 2020 “Forty Under 40.” He previously declined the Bulls’ general manager post during the 2020 hiring process and currently represents NBA players such as Donovan Mitchell, Jaren Jackson Jr., Cooper Flagg, Trae Young and OG Anunoby. Brown would follow recent examples of agents moving into lead front-office roles, a path taken by Bob Myers (Warriors, 2011), Rob Pelinka (Lakers, 2017) and Leon Rose (Knicks, 2020).
The Bulls’ interviews are expected to begin within days as the franchise seeks to finalize its new basketball operations chief ahead of the draft preparations.
Source: ESPN
