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Blake Griffin on DeAndre Jordan: “Dude, he’s like — I mean, you see him now as a vet, and it’s easier for vets to do that, but he was that for us when he was second, third, fourth year in the league. He’s a connector of people. And not to mention, he’s just an absolute freak athlete. I watched him physically punk a lot of centers, and he just never gets hurt. He’s a monster. But off the court, he’s one of those people that brings people together. You know what I mean? He keeps everything light. He has incredible empathy and EQ. His emotional awareness is off the charts, where he sees somebody maybe not having their best day or best game, and he’ll go put his arm around them because he’s built that relationship with each guy on the team.
Shamit Dua: There really hasn't been any updates for the Pelicans search at the moment. The team is still evaluating and to my understanding the 5 names under consideration at this moment in time are: Borrego Ham Hetzel Mosley Rondo
As well as building out his front office and finding that Lewin type, Graham has a coaching search to conduct as well as an NBA Draft to prepare for. The lottery is on Sunday, and the Bulls currently sit at Nos. 9 and 15 in the first round. Talent evaluation has been a strength for Graham, credited for the likes of Herb Jones and Trey Murphy III while he was in New Orleans, but also showing an ability to get off of players from a cap standpoint, moving Trae Young while Graham was in Atlanta last season. The good news for the 39-year-old? Besides multiple first-round picks in a loaded 2026 class, he’ll have a league-high $58 million in cap space this summer.
Shams Charania: Just in: The Chicago Bulls are hiring Atlanta Hawks senior vice president Bryson Graham as the franchise's new Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations, sources tell ESPN. Graham spent 15 years in New Orleans before joining Atlanta last offseason, rising from an intern to GM, and now becomes the Bulls top executive.
Shams Charania: Graham, 39, has been known across the NBA for a tremendous scouting eye and being part of successful finds in the draft and player acquisitions during his tenure with the Pelicans and Hawks. The Bulls conducted in-person interviews with candidates last week and mulled over three finalists — Graham, Detroit Pistons senior vice president Dennis Lindsey and Minnesota Timberwolves general manager Matt Lloyd — over the weekend before deciding on Graham on Monday.
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New Orleans Pelicans: The New Orleans Pelicans have named Kurt Joseph as Director of Strength & Conditioning. Joseph brings a strong track record, including the past five seasons as Director of Strength & Conditioning for the Nebraska Cornhuskers men’s basketball program. His experience also spans the NBA and G League, spending two seasons as an assistant strength coach for the Minnesota Timberwolves and one season as head of strength & conditioning for the Iowa Wolves.
Shamit Dua: Many people have already linked Mosley and the Pelicans, for months. I can confirm the Pelicans are expected to explore conversations with Mosely now that he is officially available, per source.
According to sources close to the search, Borrego is one of the four candidates who have emerged as the front runners to land the job. He joins a list that includes Rajon Rondo, Steve Hetzel and Darvin Ham. The best guess here is Rondo and Hetzel are at the top of the list.
Shamit Dua: More details to come but the Pelicans are moving quickly on medical and performance hires. Kurt Joseph is their new head of strength & conditioning. Amy Atmore will remain in her role as the director of rehab. Pels expected to finalize head athletic trainer as early as next week.
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Shamit Dua: Once the main hires are in place, they will continue to fill out their staff underneath the respective heads of departments. The previous staff had 16 positions of which only 3 were retained. Pels moving quickly in this area with the draft combine and workouts around the corner
“I know I can do it now,” Rondo told The Athletic in March when asked if he thought he was ready to be a head coach. “I have the discipline, preparation and, obviously, it’s about having the right people around you. I feel like I know who I am, and I know the people I can trust in this business for the most part. “I’ve had a lot of great mentors, a lot of people rooting for me. I definitely think I’ll be ready to go.”
In his second season with the Bucks, Rondo was given the opportunity to be far more active by working out a role that allowed him to sit behind the bench with the team when he attended games — rather than sitting in the stands as he did in his first season. That improved access gave Rondo the chance to be a part of the action as it unfolded and have conversations with players and coaches on the bench. “Nothing beats being able to be around the game, having my input on the game, being behind the bench and being around the coaching staff,” Rondo said. “There’s a lot of great knowledge, a lot of great coaches, over 100 years of coaching experience in that locker room. “For me, it’s like, what I’m doing for Ryan, I’m trying to get those coaches to do for me. I’m a sponge. I’m taking notes. I’m asking a lot of questions, and I’m sitting quietly observing.”
With so many experienced coaches around him, Rondo was given a spectacular opportunity in Milwaukee to observe how to do the job, but he also asked questions. “He has a trait that every aspiring, currently active or former coach should have, and that’s being inquisitive,” Darvin Ham told The Athletic. “He’s very curious to learn the process of things, what triggers certain actions, what triggers certain reactions on both sides of the ball. “He knows the game, but the art of trying to teach it so the players can comprehend it, that’s the part he’s picking up. The preparation process, how it goes from paper to film to actual on-court methods to after game time, and then, boom, rinse and repeat, so to speak. He’s been great, man. He’s just very intuitive, really asking questions.”