The Bulls have released 36-year old point guard Mike James.  James played in 3 games (0 starts) for the Bulls this year and he averaged 8.3 minutes, 4.0 points, 1.0 rebound and 3.7 assists per game.  He has now played in 531 games (263 starts) in his NBA career and he is averaging 25.1 minutes, 10.4 points, 2.3 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game.  James looked pretty decent for the Bulls, so he shouldn’t have to hard of a problem finding a job with another team.

The Bulls have signed 36-year old point guard Mike James.  James last played in the NBA way back in 2009-10 with the Washington Wizards.  He has played in 528 games (263 starts) in his NBA career and he is averaging 25.2 minutes, 10.5 points, 2.3 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game.  The Bulls are hoping that James will be ready to play some in tonight’s game as Derrick Rose is hurting due to a case of turf toe.

The Bulls have waived 31-year old shooting guard Keith Bogans.  Bogans played in 82 games (all starts) for the Bulls last year and he averaged 17.8 minutes, 4.4 points, 1.8 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game.  He also shot 38% from three point range last year and the Bulls may miss that out of the starting unit.  Bogans has now played in 586 games (308 starts) in his NBA career and he is averaging 22.1 minutes, 6.7 points, 2.9 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game.  Bogans should be able to find a new job before the 2010-11 starts, but the Bulls aren’t going to miss him as they have replaced him at shooting guard with Richard  Hamilton.

The Bulls have waived 32-year old guard Jannero Pargo.  He didn’t play in any games for the Bulls last year.  In 2009-10, Pargo played in 63 games (5 starts) for the Bulls and he averaged 13.1 minutes, 5.5 points, 1.2 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game.  He only shot 34.6% from the floor in 2009-10 for the Bulls, and that is pathetic.  Pargo played in 165 games (6 starts) in his four years with the Bulls and he averaged 13.8 minutes, 6.0 points, 1.3 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game.  This is no loss for the Bulls.

The Bulls have signed 33-year old shooting guard Richard Hamilton to a 3-year, $15 million dollar contract to take over as the new starting shooting guard.  Hamilton played in 55 games (39 starts) for the Pistons last year and he averaged 27.2 minutes, 14.1 points, 2.3 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game.  He has now played in 843 games (710 starts) in his NBA career and he is averaging 32.9 minutes, 17.7 points, 3.2 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game.  Hamilton fills a huge hole on the Bulls and this was an outstanding signing for them.

The Bulls have re-signed 33-year old forward Brian Scalabrine.  He played in 18 games (0 starts) for the Bulls last year and he averaged 4.9 minutes, 1.1 points, 0.4 rebounds and 0.3 assists per game.  Scalabrine has now played in 492 games (61 starts) in his NBA career and he is averaging 13.5 minutes, 3.2 points, 2.1 rebounds and 0.9 assists per game.  Scalabrine will likely keep a seat warm near the end of the bench for the Bulls in 2011-12.

The Bulls are already locked and loaded for the 2011-12 season.  I can see them maybe bringing in a couple of veteran players to sit at the end of the bench, but that’s about all they need.  The only position that is a weakness for the Bulls right now in shooting guard, but they can get by with some combination of Keith Bogans, Kyle Korver and Ronnie Brewer at the position.

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 have signed 28-year old guard John Lucas.  Lucas played in 2 games (0 starts) earlier this year for the Bulls and he averaged 5.0 minutes, 1.0 point and 0.5 assists per game.  He has now played in 62 games (0 starts) in his first three years with in the NBA and he is averaging 8.1  minutes, 3.0 points, 0.7 rebounds and 0.7 assists per game.  Lucas is only shooting 39.5% from the  floor and 24.6% from three point range so far in his career.  Don’t expect Lucas to play much unless the Bulls suffer a big rash of injuries at guard.