Vanderbilt's Jenkins “would love” to be a Bull

For a team that won 50 games in the regular season, and finished first in its division and conference, the Chicago Bulls have plenty of questions to answer this off-season.Perhaps the biggest need after securing viable scoring replacements for Derrick Rose and Luol Deng, is gaining financial flexibility under the cap.One player who could help the Bulls in both areas is Vanderbilt shooting guard John Jenkins, who recently visited with the Bulls' brass and came away impressed.You see Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, all the great coaches there, the championship banners, so its definitely motivation for me, Jenkins said at last weekend's NBA Pre-Draft Combine. I would love to play for them.The 6-foot-4 junior enters the NBA Draft as perhaps the most lethal outside shooter. He was named an honorable mention All-American in 2011, and a third team All-American in 2012. In both seasons Jenkins was named to the All-SEC team, leading the conference in scoring both years (19.5 points in 2011, 19.0 in 2012).The Bulls should have their pick of available shooting guards when their pick rolls around, including Kentucky sophomore Doron Lamb, UC-Santa Barbara senior Orlando Johnson and Jenkins. But the Commodore's prolific outside shooting (he led the nation in 3-point makes a year ago) and his experience (4 NCAA games and an SEC Tournament Championship) could give Jenkins the edge."I think every shooting guard in the draft thinks they're the best shooter, but I definitely work at it, to be the best," Jenkins said.The Bulls also would receive some financial flexibility by selecting Jenkins, or any shooting guard, in the first round. Doing so would give the Bulls the ability to decline team options on shooting guards Kyle Korver and Ronnie Brewer.Korver is set to make 5 million in 2012-'13, and Brewer is set to make 4.37 million.The Bulls' selection of Jimmy Butler with the 30th overall pick in last year's draft gives the Bulls a similar, cheaper option to Brewer. Butler will make just over 1 million in 2012, followed by team options of 1.174 million and 2.119 million in 2013 and 2014, respectively.Thanks to the NBA's slotted first round salaries, whomever the Bulls select will make an approximate 1.028 million and 1.105 million guaranteed the next two seasons. That would be almost 4 million per year cheaper than Korver.While a rookie, potentially Jenkins, would not bring as much short term value as Korver would, the salary cap space it would open up makes sense for the long-term.Gar Forman told Bulls.com the team intends to re-sign restricted free agent center Omir Asik this off-season, but they will need to have available cap room freed up should another team sign the 7-footer to a tender offer.That could mean declining C.J. Watson's 3.7 million team option, but without Rose for a good chunk of next year, Watson could be a valuable piece for the Bulls.A more likely option is the Bullsshoring up the shooting guard position at a cheaper price, potentially through the draft with a player like Jenkins.They said they need a shooter, a guy that can really open things up for D-Rose and just really open up the offense, Jenkins said at the Pre-Draft Combine.Forman insists the team will not draft based on need, rather selecting the best player available. But Jenkins, an obvious team need, also could be the best player left when the Bulls are on the clock June 28.