Rahimi, Harris & Grote Show
Will Guillory reflects on Bryson Graham's time in New Orleans
05 May 2026
Transcript generated automatically by AI and may contain errors.
Chapter 1: What insights does Will Guillory share about Bryson Graham's career?
Rahimi Harrison-Grody.
AJ, how are you?
Good. I can't believe how fancy y'all are now. I mean, it used to just be a radio call-in show. Now I got to put clothes on to do this thing. I can't peak too early. I got to kind of try to control my peaking. So, you know, it's a little early to already put a shirt and a hat on. Middays 10 to 2 on 104.3 The Score.
I want someone who's process oriented. I think some of the biggest mistakes we've made over the years is we have not followed a process. I think that's really important. Conviction. I think we need someone who's not afraid to pull the trigger.
Chapter 2: How did Bryson Graham's work ethic contribute to his success?
Communicator. Okay. We have a history at the Bulls. in the top position, other than Pax, they haven't always been the best communicators, going back to the days of Jerry Krause. Like, it wasn't one of our tourists' strengths, okay, in terms of communicating with the media.
It's really a direct statement. It gets better and better every time I hear it. That was Michael Reinstorf after he let go of Arturis Karnaschovas and Mark Eversley. This is Rahimi Harrison-Grody on the score, and we go to the hotline. That is where we find Will Guillory. He is the NBA writer for The Athletic, and he is based in New Orleans. Will, thanks for coming on with us today.
Appreciate y'all for having me. Well, we're so curious because everybody wants to know about this guy who's now going to lead the Bulls into the future. And I'm just curious as to what you feel like are the strengths that maybe the Bulls saw in him that you've seen in your time in New Orleans.
Chapter 3: What strengths did the Bulls see in Bryson Graham based on his time in New Orleans?
First of all, you've got to compliment Bryson for his work ethic. This is a guy I've known for a long time. Started in the Pelicans organization as an intern, worked his way up the ladder, developed relationships to the point where he eventually was the number two guy behind David Griffin before he left. to take the job in Atlanta.
I think, you know, the number one thing when you talk to people about Bryson is his ability to really evaluate young talent. You know, he was the guy that they really put in charge of the draft a lot of the times. The Pelicans are a team that's known for, you know, finding guys through the two-way contracts or undrafted. Obviously, they got Jose Alvarado as an undrafted guy.
Najee Marshall was an undrafted guy they found in New Orleans. And I think Bryson Graham was a big part of that process I know for sure two guys that was kind of the feather in Bryson's hat was he was a loud voice when they drafted Trey Murphy and Herb Jones together in the draft. Those are two of his guys. So I think that's the main thing when you look at Bryson.
I think he's a guy that's going to come in and really improve your draft process, really improve just the young foundation that you're building. And I think that's something that the Bulls really need, right, is having those young guys there.
Chapter 4: How did Bryson Graham evaluate young talent during his tenure?
to really develop the future, start from the ground up. And I think Bryson is the guy who's going to specialize in that area.
Will, we're happy to have you on for this perspective. And you've hit on some of the topics that we've brought up already earlier today. You know, Jose Alvarado, of course, is a big name that a lot of people know. And just when you bring up the other names and how they came to be with the Pelicans organization.
The other part of it, too, is the importance of pointing out that starting out as an intern and getting to the highest ranks of the front office is uncommon in the NBA for people who maybe don't know. What does that say about just the achievement level? How special that is and how that is not something that's common is you can work your way up like that.
No, indeed, no. I think, first off, it's just about work ethic. Like I said, as a guy who comes in and puts in work in every day, traveled all over the world, you know, really does the film study. And not just that, I think it's a big thing with Bryson is his relationship building.
I think when you talk to some of the guys and, you know, how close he was to Trey Murphy and New Orleans and Herb Jones and those guys, and not just the players, but family. I think that's a big thing for Bryson when you really get to know him.
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Chapter 5: What role did communication play in Bryson Graham's effectiveness?
He's a big family guy. He gets to know the parents of players better. gets to know the people around these players and just how they think. And I think that's something that the Pelicans really prioritized during David Griffin's time, kind of that family feel, kind of having everybody feeling like they're a part of this big tent.
And I think that's something that Bison's going to really prioritize as well, kind of having that relationship with his guys, understanding that the culture begins with just getting to know each other and getting to know what makes guys tick and how to really push them forward. to, you know, try to be something greater. So I think, yeah, I think Bryson is a really good people person.
He's a guy who can, when you're in the room with him, you really, you know, you can see where he comes from and really, you know, like his personality and he's very personable, but also he's a guy that puts in the work. And I think that's what you really need from a guy in that position. He's a guy who's willing to not just delegate, but he's willing to put in the work himself.
And I think this is something he's been waiting for for a while now. And I think he's going to really hit the ground running once he gets that opportunity.
That is the voice of Will Guillory joining us here on Rahimi Harrison. Grody, he is the NBA writer for The Athletic, based in New Orleans, covering the Pelicans and the Rockets, and talking about Bryson Graham, who is now the executive vice president of basketball operations for the Bulls. I'm curious, Will, I know you know about that draft night trade.
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Chapter 6: How did Bryson Graham maintain team unity amid challenges in New Orleans?
in which I thought Joe Dumars was crazy, but hey, Derrick Queen is a good player, but an undrafted Pelicans pick is valuable capital. We got word that everybody above them were offered the same offer. That includes here in Chicago. What do you make of deals like that and his ability to also offload Trey Young and still be a good team in the East as they finished on quite the run?
Yeah, to be honest, I don't think Bryson was that involved in the Dairy Queen because that was the time when Troy Weaver and Joe Dumars came in. So they were the guys who kind of were really pushing a lot of those moves once they first came in, especially Troy Weaver. He was the guy obviously with ties to the D.C. area, was formerly worked for the Washington Wizards.
So he had a relationship with Derrick Green and kind of knew what he was doing. So I think he was the one that really was pushing for that trade. But yeah, obviously, Bryson played a part in Atlanta moving on from Trae Young. And like I said, some of the draft picks that the Pelicans made in the previous year. So I think he's a guy that's willing to be a part of bold moves.
I think he's going to be a guy who comes in and really wants to put his stamp.
on this team and like i said i think he's going to want to do it from the ground up i think he's going to want to bring in some young guys to develop that that foundation for this team uh yeah and not just having young talent but also just kind of building that that cultural vibe with this team i think with the chicago it's kind of felt a little bit all over the place with the type of guys they bring in and you don't you don't really point to chicago and say this is a team that really relies on this is a this is a team that believes in this
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Chapter 7: What is Bryson Graham's basketball philosophy and style of play?
And I think that's what Bryson is going to want to bring in. This is what we stand for. This is the style of play we want to have on a night-to-night basis. And I think that's something that he's going to really be able to thrive in. And I think that's what I'm really excited about with him going to Chicago, just him being able to use his draft picks.
find some guys in the undrafted market, and really build it up in that way. And I think that's what Chicago really needs. And, you know, they've done some good things at finding guys like Mataz Bruzelis and stuff like that. But, you know, doing a little bit more of that, I think it's going to be their path to kind of being more competitive in the East.
We're talking to Will Guillory. You can find him on X at Will, G-U-I-L-L-O-R-Y. He's the NBA writer for The Athletic based in New Orleans. And Will, we heard a clip just coming in before your interview from Michael Reinsdorf talking about prioritizing that communication. And you discussed the building of relationships.
How do you know Bryson Graham as a just communicator in general, whether it be with the media?
Chapter 8: How can Bryson Graham's approach help the Bulls in the future?
And then you mentioned his players a bit as well.
No, I think that's a huge part of the job as well, being able to communicate with the media and not just in press conferences, right? Being able to get your message out there and having, you know, not leaving the fans in kind of the mystery, right? That's what frustrates fans when you really don't know what the front office is thinking or what direction they're trying to go or what kind of...
motivates them in certain ways. I think he's a guy that's going to be able to communicate that message much better, being able to, you know, obviously have relationships with local media and be able to get his message forward.
But also, like I said, just being able to have the relationships with the players and the people who are important to them and kind of having that feel where everybody's kind of pushing in the same direction. Everybody feels like they're together in this. And I think that's something that he's done really well during his time in New Orleans. Obviously, In New Orleans, there was a lot of turmoil.
I'm not sure if you guys have heard. Oh, we know. There's a lot going on in New Orleans with that franchise and some of the people in that organization. And I think Bryson Graham played a crucial role in kind of keeping guys united and not allowing some of the outside stuff out. to distract guys.
And I think, you know, if you remember, a lot of that stuff was going on when certain guys were hurt and not available. The Pelicans were still striving and still making the playoffs and sending guys to all-star games because of, you know, obviously some of the talent they acquired, but also just the culture they built. within the building. And I think Bryson Graham played a huge role in that.
And I think that's how you get the most out of guys when they really feel like they're a part of something. They really feel like the organization is invested in them. And I think that's something that Bryson has done a really good job with. You know, I think he's done, he did a little bit of that in Atlanta. And now he's going to be fully committed making the move for Chicago.
And Will, I got to ask you, because you talked about identity. What do you feel like his basketball philosophy is on the court? And are there any coaching candidates do you think kind of would fit that mold right now because, of course, he's got to hire a head coach.
Yeah, I think the head coach would be an interesting one just because, you know, There's always the possibility of wanting to go a little younger, trying to develop somebody who's in the assistant coaching ranks or maybe going to get somebody who's a little older, a little bit more experienced.
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