Bulls casting wide net in coaching search that includes Cavs’ Johnnie Bryant

The Chicago Bulls are still very much in the early stages of their coaching search, and the growing list of candidates reflects that.

After news surfaced that Chicago received permission to interview Johnnie Bryant, Bulls insider K.C. Johnson described the process as a “wide net” search being led by executive vice president Bryson Graham.

“This is another example of wide net Bryson Graham is casting,” Johnson wrote on X. “There are longtime assistants waiting for first shot on list, candidates with previous head coaching experience and up-and-coming younger assistants. Process remains in early stages.”

Bryant certainly fits the rising-assistant category.

He just completed his second season on Kenny Atkinson’s staff in Cleveland, helping guide the Cavaliers to the Eastern Conference finals before they were swept by the New York Knicks.

Bryant previously spent four seasons with the Knicks as associate head coach and has long been viewed around the NBA as one of the league’s strongest developmental coaches and relationship-builders.

He was also a finalist for the Phoenix Suns’ head coaching opening last offseason before Phoenix hired Jordan Ott.

At this point, Bryant’s name continuing to surface in searches around the league hardly qualifies as a surprise anymore.

Other names linked to the search: San Antonio Spurs assistant Sean Sweeney and Miami Heat assistant Chris Quinn.