Apr 27, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bulls guard Jimmy Butler (21) looks on against the Milwaukee Bucks in game five of the first round of the 2015 NBA Playoffs at United Center. The Bucks won 94-88. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports
2011: Nikola Mirotic, Norris Cole and Jimmy Butler were all Chicago Bulls at some point
Remember when I said the Bulls draft Norris Cole?
Yeah, they did. Then, a whole bunch of weird trade stuff happened.
The Bulls had their pick from the James Johnson trade at No. 28, which they used on getting Cole.
After that, Cole was sent to Minnesota in exchange for some dude named Nikola Mirotic.
So to review, the Bulls had now acquired the 23rd overall pick (which was originally selected by Houston from Orlando … via Phoenix), and now had sent their 28th overall pick (Cole) to Minnesota, who was then sent to Miami for a second-round pick in 2014.
Get all of that?
Wait, there’s more.
The Bulls still had their original pick in the 2011 NBA Draft, which turned out to be Marquette’s Jimmy Butler.
Butler’s only become of the league’s best two-way players on the wing and is in line for a humongous new contract after a 2014-15 campaign that saw him win the NBA’s Most Improved Player Award.
Phew. So many trades.
Next: 2012: Marquis Teague. Sigh.