It's the type of decision that defines an organization for years to come.
Yet it's a nice problem to have.
The Chicago Bulls have the No. 1 pick in the NBA draft lottery and almost certainly will choose either former Memphis point guard Derrick Rose or former Kansas State forward Michael Beasley.
They say that either way the team can't lose. But that still shouldn't stop them from doing their due diligence to try and get the better player.
At Kansas State, Beasley averaged 26.2 points and an NCAA-leading 12.4 rebounds this past season. He was also listed at 6-foot-10— although speculation has been rampant that he’s probably closer to 6-foot-8.
He is a free spirit with some whispers of off the court bad news, having attended five different high schools. But he has been charged with no wrongdoing. And he can score from virtually anywhere on the court. You can likely put him down for a double-double certainty.
On the other hand, Rose is a quiet figure who will provide on the court leadership, creating shots for Bulls players like Ben Gordon and Luol Deng, who are not very good at creating their own shots.
At Memphis, the 6-3 point guard averaged 14.9 points and 4.5 assists in his freshman season. The Bulls need a true point guard and potential leader. And the speedy and athletic Rose is from Chicago. Perhaps the best reason to select Rose is that he makes his teammates better, and would likely lure free agents to want to play for Chicago. Did someone say Dwyane Wade, also a Chicago native?
We likely won't know until we near the June 26th draft date. Rose - Beasley or Beasley - Rose? The Bulls will decide which player they prefer, leaving the other to be selected by the Miami Heat. Come to think of it, not a bad consolation prize.
3 comments Last one added about 1 year ago — Leave a Comment
Sam Wenk about 1 year ago
Bob writes on Bulls topics too?! Wow, you're like DeRosa, you play all the positions! I am on the Rose bandwaggon because he seems like he has it all figured out, both mentally and physically, and hs upside is tremendous. I watched a lot of Beasley's games this year and thought he was unbelievable. I watched a few of Rose's games and saw a player who made his team better. So who is right for the Bulls? It has to be Rose. He is way less likely to be a major distraction, like Beasley is being labeled with, and Rose could lead our team for years to come. He's from Chicago too. We'll see what news pops up in the coming weeks, but hopefully Paxson chooses the best player and doesn't draft on "need."
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Bob Warja about 1 year ago
I agree Sam, I would take Rose.
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Ryan Marinelli about 1 year ago
i would definitely go with Rose.
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