The Chicago Bulls picked 21-year old, 6’7″, 220 pound small forward Jimmy Butler with the 30th pick of the 2011 NBA Draft.  Butler played in 37 games for Marquette last year and he averaged 34.6 minutes, 15.7 points, 6.1 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.4 steals per game.  He played in 106 games in three years in college and he averaged 29.6 minutes, 12.0 points, 5.5 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.1 steals per game.  Butler will be able to give Luol Deng a break next season whenever he needs one.  This was a solid pick for the Bulls.

The Bulls dealt up for 20-year old, 6’10″, 220 pound power forward Nikola Mirotic.  He was picked 23rd overall and was then dealt to the Bulls.  Mirotic is a pick for the future as he is signed through the 2014 season with Real Madrid in Spain.  Chances are that he can be bought out before 2014, but he likely won’t be wearing a Bulls’ uniform any time soon.  Mirotic has played in 120 games in four years in Spain and he is averaging 19.7 minutes, 9.7 points, 5.0 rebounds and 0.8 assists per game.

The Chicago Bulls currently own the #28, #30 and #43 picks in the 2011 NBA Draft.  The Bulls could decide to keep the picks to try to package them to move up for one player.  I think they will likely stand pat.  The Bulls need help at shooting guard.  With that in mind, I can see the Bulls taking SG LaceDarius Dunn out of Baylor.  The Bulls could also use a small forward like Jimmy Butler out of Marquette and they could take him at #30.  The Bulls will likely take the best player available at #43.

PF/C Kurt Thomas, SG/SF Rasual Butler and PF Brian Scalabrine are all unrestricted FA heading into the off-season for the Bulls.  I think the Bulls will try to bring Kurt Thomas back.  He was excellent in filling in for Joakim Noah when he was injured last year.  I think he’s a very solid backup big man.  Rasual Butler didn’t do much for the Bulls last year and I think they are going to let him go, even though they have problems at shooting guard.  Brian Scalabrine is a waste of a bench spot.  I think the Celtics would be better served to give a young player Scalabrine’s spot in 2011-12.