"The Bulls officially announced the acquisition of Nikola Mirotic's draft rights from the Timberwolves once paperwork cleared the NBA league office Friday evening.

League sources said Mirotic's buyout from Real Madrid stands at roughly 2 million Euros. That number obviously is negotiable, but the plan for now is to keep Mirotic overseas for at least two or three seasons of his five-year deal. Bulls international scout Ivica Dukan has watched Mirotic, 20, for years and management projected him as a lottery pick talent whose long-term contract and buyout situation dropped him in the draft.

The Bulls were fearful the Thunder, who took Reggie Jackson with the 24th pick, would draft Mirotic after the Thunder had scouted him extensively. That's why management traded up.

A trade target from virtually all of last summer, Rudy Fernandez, moved from the Trail Blazers to the Mavericks. Team sources said the Bulls had discussions with the Trail Blazers this week but opted against bidding for Fernandez because of his erratic season — including comments about returning overseas — and indifferent defense."