The Bulls are continuing to reshape their basketball operations under executive vice president of basketball operations Bryson Graham, and Thursday brought a fresh batch of front-office moves.
Chicago announced Brian Hagen’s promotion to senior vice president of player personnel, a role that rewards a long run with the franchise. Hagen has been with the Bulls since 2012 and has worked his way through multiple basketball operations jobs, most recently serving as director of player personnel.
The Bulls also added several new faces. Dionne Calhoun is in as assistant athletic trainer, Alex Kaufman joins as senior manager of basketball operations and general manager of the Windy City Bulls, and Jarrett Sutton has been hired as a scout and intelligence coordinator.
Noah Fax was promoted to coordinator of basketball operations, while Justin Irwin was elevated to assistant strength and conditioning coach. Both Kaufman and Sutton previously worked with Graham in New Orleans.
Around the Central, Cleveland’s biggest question heading toward the 2026/27 season is depth. Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com points to the Cavaliers’ bench as the main concern after an offseason that saw Dean Wade, Keon Ellis and Larry Nance Jr. leave in free agency, while Dennis Schröder and Max Strus were traded away.
Sam Merrill and Jaylon Tyson look like the safest bets to handle meaningful reserve minutes, but the rest of the picture is less certain. Fedor notes that the Cavs still need answers on what they can count on from Tyrese Proctor, Thomas Bryant, Mario Hezonja and Nae’Qwan Tomlin.
Head coach Kenny Atkinson, though, isn’t sounding the alarm. On Friday, he said he believes there are 13 players on the roster who could end up in the rotation, according to a Twitter link via Fedor. Atkinson also said the starting five is “not set,” though it would be a surprise if anyone besides Peyton Watson ends up at the three alongside James Harden, Donovan Mitchell Evan Mobley, and Jarrett Allen.
In Indiana, Pacers general manager Chad Buchanan said Thursday he wasn’t getting into possible new contracts for the team’s extension-eligible players, including Pascal Siakam, Ben Sheppard and Jarace Walker, according to Zion Brown of The Indianapolis Star.
Buchanan did address Walker’s role, however, with the former lottery pick heading into the final year of his rookie deal. “His role will be a little different this year than it was last year,” the GM said.
“And the more simplified he can keep his game, the more he can focus on helping us do the little things. … We don’t need a lot of play-making necessarily from him like maybe we did last year, and I think part of his maturity and growth as a player is understanding what the team needs from him.
We’ve got to see him do it and he’s got to do it night to night.”
In Other News...
These 3 Cavaliers Could Change Cleveland's Bench In A Big Way
The Cavaliers are always looking for cheap ways to deepen the bench, and a few names outside the usual rotation picture could end up mattering more than expected once the 2026-27 season arrives. Nae'Qwan Tomlin, Mario Hezonja and Kevin Porter Jr. each bring a different kind of intrigue, whether it is size and versatility, a proven scoring track record or the kind of offensive pop that can change second-unit possessions in a hurry.
Hezonjas path is especially unusual, since he has already worked his way back to the NBA after a strong overseas stint and a Spanish ACB Regular Season MVP award. Porters case is tied to both his shooting efficiency and his contract situation, while Tomlin remains the developmental wild card in the group. If even one of them takes a real step forward, Clevelands bench conversation could look a lot different than it does now. [Read more 🡒]
Koby Altman Framed The Cavs' LeBron Miss As A Bigger Win
The Cavaliers did make a real run at LeBron James in free agency, even getting a meeting with him before he chose the Philadelphia 76ers, but the front office did not let the miss send it scrambling. Cleveland stayed measured in the aftermath, moving quickly to add Peyton Watson, draft Meleek Thomas, sign Mario Hezonja and extend Donovan Mitchell, all while keeping the bigger picture in mind. Team president Koby Altman framed the outcome as part of the business, saying the club respected James decision and was intent on preserving what it already had built.
For Cleveland, that response may matter as much as the pursuit itself. Rather than treating the James swing as a referendum on the offseason, the Cavs used it as a checkpoint and went back to work on the roster they believe can contend. The message from Altman was less about disappointment than continuity, with the team choosing not to blow up its plans over one of the summers most high-profile misses. [Read more 🡒]
Cavaliers Camp Could Decide Which Young Players Actually Stick
Training camp is shaping up to be more than a tune-up for Cleveland. Thomas, Nae'Qwan Tomlin, Proctor, Porter Jr. and Watson are all expected to be in the mix for playing time, and the next few weeks should do a lot of sorting out before the preseason ends. For a team that wants to build reliable depth, these sessions matter because they offer the clearest look at which young players can turn flashes into something steadier.
What happens in camp and preseason could also echo into the 2026-27 season, when rotation spots may be at even more of a premium. Each of these players has shown enough to stay in the conversation, but the article makes clear that recent performances only go so far if they are not matched by improvement in the areas Cleveland is still watching. The early competition should be real, and the players who separate themselves now will be the ones who keep a foothold when the roster picture tightens. [Read more 🡒]