Bryson Graham is aggressively scouting elite talent, eyeing top-tier prospects to anchor Chicago’s rebuilding efforts through his rigorous physical evaluation standards.
The Chicago Bulls aren't waiting around — they're doing everything at once.
Before finalizing the coaching staff or locking in the rest of the front office, the Bulls' new EVP of Basketball Operations, Bryson Graham, has already turned his attention to the draft. Per 670 The Score's Cody Westerlund, the Bulls have held conversations with AJ Dybantsa and Darryn Peterson — two of the most coveted prospects in the 2026 NBA Draft class and widely projected as the first two picks off the board in June.
The NBA Draft Combine is underway in Chicago, entering Day Three on Wednesday, with prospects speaking to media before and after 5-on-5 scrimmages. According to the Chicago Tribune, the Bulls have scheduled meetings with approximately 20 candidates — players potentially in range for both their No. 4 and No. 15 selections.
Caleb Wilson, widely projected to slot right at No. 4 where the Bulls are picking, already came in familiar with Graham's schematic evaluation, what he calls the SLAP measurement: size, length, athleticism and physicality.
May 12, 2026; Chicago, IL, USA; Caleb Wilson participates in the 2026 NBA Draft Combine at Wintrust Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images"I know about the SLAP," Wilson said in Wednesday's media availability, adding that he believed he fits Graham's criteria naturally. It's hard to argue given Wilson's size and other aspects of his physical presence, who stood out at the combine with a 39.5-inch maximum vertical jump and a wingspan pushing seven feet, shooting 19-of-30 on off-dribble attempts and 12-of-25 from three, though he struggled in spot-up shooting at 11-of-25.
Cameron Boozer, another top-tier prospect in range for Chicago, said he had a "good conversation" with the Bulls, where his father, former Bull Carlos Boozer, played from 2010 to 2014. Putting the connection aside, what matters is what Cameron said himself.
"If your team's goal is to win a championship, I think I'm the guy," he told CBS Chicago on Wednesday.
Graham made clear at his introductory press conference that a championship is always the destination, even if the road runs through a developmental stage first. Boozer and Peterson both shone in shooting drills at the combine, each going 19-of-25 in spot-up shooting, which is an encouraging sign under the Bulls' radar.
Dybantsa was the most electric athlete on the floor, posting a jaw-dropping 42-inch maximum vertical — the best among all participants. However, his shooting numbers were mixed: 11-of-25 from three but 23-of-30 on off-dribble attempts. He told CBS analyst Adam Finkelstein on Wednesday that he hopes to stay in Utah and be selected by the Jazz, who hold the No. 2 pick. If that holds, the Bulls' board at four gets a lot clearer.
With Graham running conversations across 20 prospects simultaneously while still working on finalizing a head coach and supporting front office staff, the rebuild is progressing.