A month after the 2008 draft, the exhibition games are over, the Summer League's over, and the offseason is coming to an end.
Now we turn our heads back and realize—maybe Derrick Rose and Michael Beasley should have swapped places in the draft. That would have helped both of them gain a more appropriate role, and also helped their teams fill an empty hole that they had been searching for over a long period of time.
Of course, each of them being drafted in this particular order is nothing wrong. It may do both teams some good—but I believe that if they were to switch positions on the draft board, more good may be done.
Derrick Rose, a 6'3", 196-pound point guard from Memphis, is a Chicago boy. His athleticism, potential, and decision-making skills are undeniable. In fact, his game is so versatile it is compared to the likes of future Hall-of-Famer Jason Kidd. His ability to attack the rim is as good as any point guard in the league, if not better. Add in his defensive abilities, and he sounds like a dream PG for any team.
Michael Beasley, on the other hand, is a 6'8", 239-pound forward. After a stellar year with Kansas State, Beasley arrives on the grand stage. He is a reliable post player, good shooter, and a terrific rebounder. His defense may be questioned, but his potential is very high. Size may be a problem, but he is a solid big man. Sounds like a good player to draft for a team that needs a big man.
So the Chicago Bulls, who fought against the slightest chance of winning the first overall pick, goes first, while the rebuilding Miami Heat looks to draft second.
And the Chicago Bulls decided to draft their hometown star.
At first look, it makes sense, right? He's a Chicago native, he's the best player out of the draft pool—what better player could they have asked for?
How about Michael Beasley?
Today's Must Reads
Beasley would have been the best choice for the Bulls, for a number of different reasons.
First of all, he is a legitimate big man, a reliable post player who is willing to clean up the glass as well. When required, he can shoot the outside jump shot to spread the floor for the post players—Joakim Noah, Drew Gooden, and perhaps even Tyrus Thomas.
By taking Beasley, the Bulls would have solved their biggest problem for years—the lack of a solid big man. But instead, with the addition of Rose, not only have the Bulls deepened their roster with star guards, but it also adds a new problem to the organization.
Kirk Hinrich vs Derrick Rose.
Who gets the starting job? Should Hinrich be traded? Should Hinrich play SG? If so, where does Ben Gordon go? Back to the bench, like he did before? Then does Larry Hughes need to go somewhere too?
Would Gordon not re-sign with the Bulls if that happens? If Gordon goes, would Luol Deng go too? If two star players leave, would Kirk Hinrich or Derrick Rose want to go?
On and on and on...
With the addition of Derrick Rose, the Bulls do get a highly prestigious point guard—but what they face now is a list of big problems.
But the biggest problem of all is still the lack of a solid big man to put them in contention in the not-so-competitive Eastern Conference. With star players Gordon and Deng, it is a mystery why the Bulls decided to go with Rose. After all, the draft is suppose to help the team strength their playoff possibility. It's not about drafting the best player there is.
Then on the other side of the story, we have the Miami Heat getting the leftover Beasley.
With Dwayne Wade and Shawn Marion leading the way for the Heat, they would be able to get some help from a good big man, but what they need most is a solid point guard to run the show. Jason Williams is getting old and is very injury-prone. When he is out, Chris Quinn is the only other real PG. But for most of the time, Wade takes the spot.
Dwayne Wade playing PG means the Heat lose a lot of offense. That means losing a game.
Wade is everything to the Heat. Marion can't win games by himself, Ricky Davis is too inconsistent, and there is no one else that can actually score in a hurry.
If the Bulls picked the right guy, then the Heat would benefit too, by drafting Derrick Rose.
In this case, I think the Bulls gets the blame, because they drafted first. In addition, Heat recognized their lack of point guards, and drafted Mario Chalmers in the second round.
But they had to pick Beasley second, because they could use a big man as well, since Mark Blount and Udonis Haslem can't be relied upon on a nightly basis. And the next decent PG after Rose on the draft table was D.J. Augustin.
If they picked Augustin, that would have meant passing on O.J. Mayo, Brook Lopez, Eric Gordon, Russell Westbrook, Kevin Love, and Jerryd Bayless. The Heat had to pick Beasley.
The result of the decision by the Bulls? The Miami Heat, to some extent, managed to fulfill their needs—maybe not to their expectation, but they did.
The Chicago Bulls, on the other hand, are still a pile of torn-up pieces of paper waiting to be bound into a book. The problem is, the paper is burning—Gordon and Deng might choose to play with some other team.
So the Bulls better do something about their roster now, or they may not get the chance to try again any time soon.
Maybe the Bulls can trade Rose to Heat for Beasley?
That would solve the problem.
And Derrick Rose gets to keep "No. 1 Overall Draft Pick" on his resume.
comments (7) write a comment »
write a new comment
about 1 month ago
I could not agree more. I totalt thought beasley was the better player coming out, and expressed that in an article I wrote around draft time. I guess chicago wanted the home town pick, but it seems rediculous to me. The only reason Rose's stock went up so high was because of the NCAA tourney, where Rose had a team of future leaguers, and Beasley had, well, Kansas State. Much agreed.
about 1 month ago
I think you are living in the twilight zone. Gordon and Deng are stars? Really? Did you happen to see how many games the Bulls actually won last year? Those two "stars" contributed a lot to that mess. Gordon and Deng both have work ethic, defense, and team -player issues. Ask Scott Skiles about that. They are talented players, but not stars by any measure.
Beasley would add another me first, poor defense, player to a Bulls squad that is already choked with them.
And you are wrong- drafting for need, as opposed to talent, is always a bad idea. Remember Sam Bowie over Michael Jordan?
about 1 month ago
The Chicago Bulls will *make more money* off of drafting Rose, over Beasley, and at some point folk have to realize what the league is about now. If you don't have a championship team and are far from being one ---ala Bulls and Heat!--- you want to position your org to make as much money as possible, in the meantime.
Making a hometown all-world player (in college and high school) your org's pick, as THE FIRST PLAYER chosen in the draft...is priceless
Plus, Beasley has shown some concerns for falling prey to some (-) off the Court challenges. In terms of his commitment and maturity being legitimately questioned. Don't let one year of focus make you all forget about his 3-4 years of uncertainty/immaturity, prior to that. Besides, there are more players in the league similar to Beasley's skill set, that Chicago can rid some of their marquee frontliners, to get. However Rose is in a PG-class, by himself. Considering this is 2008, for Jason Kidd, and not 1998.
Selecting Rose was a no-brainer, for the long run, and for 'the short term revenue advantages' The Bulls will certainly reap ----which wouldn't be there, had Rose gone to The Heat. Beasley may shine moreso, at first, for likely having more offensive opportunity but in the end, I see Rose having the most "playoff success" if you will.
about 1 month ago
Jack,
back awwwwwwway from the hallucinogens
Please?
...Both Gordon and Deng are rated as $40+ million players. Period. Moreso, Gordon, since he has shown how he can go off in 4th Quarters during crunch time. Just because he wasn't utilized properly ---or didn't have those situations available to shine in--- over the past few seasons, doesn't make that talent disappear. Kirk Heinrich forcing his game, was a big part of depleted opportunities for those two players, as well. Although, I would say that Deng could be a player that the teams are starting to 'figure out' and therefore, may not achieve to the degree we've seen/anticipated in his first few years.
about 1 month ago
yung,
There aren't enough hallucinogens around to make Gordon or Deng look like a superstar after how they performed last year. No one manages to "figure out" Kobe, or Shaq (in his prime), or even many of the lesser stars. Sorry, Gordon and Deng aren't even close to being elite players. Good, yes. Stars? No.
Believe me, if they would make Gordon look like he actually played defense, or Deng look like he wasn't a me first-last- and always player, I'd looove some hallucinogens...
about 1 month ago
It's hard to take the commentary of a journalist seriously when he doesn't even spell names correctly. Dwyane, not Dwayne. Check your facts.
23 days ago
Miami needed Rose, Chicago needed Beasley.
Sidenote- Heat should have gotten Kristic from Nets via free agency.
write a new comment