The Chicago Bulls continued their organizational reset Thursday by finalizing a deal to hire Stephen Mervis as senior vice president of basketball operations under newly appointed executive vice president Bryson Graham.
According to NBA insider Shams Charania, the Bulls are also hiring Acie Law as vice president of player personnel, adding two respected evaluators to a reshaped front office following a 31-51 season and a fourth straight year outside the playoffs.
Mervis arrives after spending 12 years with the Orlando Magic organization, where he rose through the basketball operations department with a reputation for strategy, roster evaluation and long-term team building. Orlando finished 45-37 this season and earned a Play-In Tournament berth in the Eastern Conference, continuing a steady climb built largely through internal development and draft success.
The Bulls are attempting to build a similar foundation after dismissing former executive vice president Arturas Karnisovas and general manager Marc Eversley on April 6. Graham, hired May 4 after a lengthy run with the Atlanta Hawks, immediately began reshaping the organization’s infrastructure.
One of Graham’s first moves came earlier this week when the franchise parted ways with Windy City Bulls general manager Josh Malone. Thursday’s additions signal a stronger emphasis on scouting, player development and front-office alignment ahead of the 2026 NBA Draft.
Chicago holds the No. 4 overall pick in a draft class viewed by league executives as one of the deepest in recent years. Prospects including AJ Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson, Cameron Boozer and Caleb Wilson headline a group that could reshape several rebuilding franchises.
The hiring of Law adds another draft-focused voice to the front office. The former NBA guard worked in scouting and personnel roles with the Sacramento Kings and Oklahoma City Thunder from 2018-25 before joining the Brooklyn Nets. Oklahoma City, in particular, became one of the league’s model organizations during that span through aggressive drafting and player development.
Law also brings familiarity with Graham dating back to their time together at Texas A&M Aggies. Before entering the executive ranks, Law played four NBA seasons, including a stint with the Bulls during the 2009-10 campaign.
Chicago’s roster still includes several young foundational pieces, led by 23-year-old Josh Giddey and 21-year-old Matas Buzelis. Giddey averaged 17.0 points, 9.1 assists and 8.3 rebounds this season, while Buzelis posted 16.3 points and 1.5 blocks across 77 starts.
With Billy Donovan stepping down last month and the coaching search still ongoing, the Bulls are rebuilding nearly every layer of the organization. Thursday’s hires suggest Graham is prioritizing experienced evaluators with strong backgrounds in scouting and roster construction as Chicago prepares for a pivotal offseason.
