Bulls win the lottery
I had fallen asleep while trying to see what position the Bulls would be picking from next month. I awoke and immediately checked my phone. My friend Reggie had delivered these messages 7:15, Bulls are picking in top 3, 7:25 Bulls have the #1 pick, yes. I rushed to my computer and checked his messages accuracy because he has a habit of reporting false information to me when it comes to the league, for example last summer he had me believing Tracy McGrady had retired after another first-round exit.
He was telling the truth after all. The Bulls have the choice of selecting either Michael Beasley or the hometown guard who I have publicly and privately pushed for - Derrick Rose. If you’re a Bulls fan, the level of excitement you’re experiencing is off the charts. You have two guys who can come in right away and contribute.
Michael Beasley
Image details: Kansas State v Wisconsin served by picapp.com
The Kansas State freshmen forward averaged 26.5 points and an NCAA best 12.6 rebounds. If picked 1st he automatically becomes the Bulls best low post scorer and top rebounder while also being able to step out to the NBA three point range. Another plus about his game is he isn’t afraid of contact and will get to the line, which is huge in this team. Athletically speaking, he maybe a cut above Tyrus Thomas and that’s saying alot. Like Thomas, he doesn’t have a defined position. He’s around 6′8, 6′9 but the Bulls will give him looks at both positions. Reminds me of Carmelo Anthony with his inside/outside game.
On the defensive end he is strong enough at the 4 position to hold his own and with his quickness he may be able to stay in front of some of the 3 men in the league. He has a long wing span and can get off the floor very easily which means he should be a valuable help defender. The knock on Beasley is his maturity and concentration. He can get distracted when things aren’t going his way which leads to critics questioning his effort, but I believe this guy can exhibit effort for 82 games and beyond and play up to the guys he will be going up against.
Rookie season prediction: 16 ppg 8 rpg 1.5 bpg
Derrick Rose
Image details: UCLA v Memphis served by picapp.com
He is right up there with Deron Williams and Chris Paul in terms of play making and ability to score the basketball. He averaged 14.9 points 4 assists and 4 rebounds for a Memphis Tigers team that was thisclose to capturing a National Title. I love Kirk Hinrich but the starting point guard spot will be Rose’s by seasons end. I can even see them sharing minutes on the floor when the Bulls go to a small lineup. His speed is next level and has been since his high school years at Simeon. I know Larry Hughes likes to play the point position, but that experiment is over once this guy gets here. He is strong enough to take the hits and finish at the basket. Defensively, he has the foot speed to stay in front of almost anyone and his strength and athleticism should help him at this end also.
His outside shot really is the only thing that I can nit pick about. Rose reminds me of a bigger version of Chris Paul and if you want to go beyond that, a smaller version of LeBron James. He plays under control and isn’t selfish about sharing the ball. With the right coach and system in place, Rose will challenge for Rookie of the Year honors. A lot has been said about the Bulls not needing another guard. This isn’t just another guard though, this one is special.
Rookie season prediction: 12 ppg 6 apg 2 spg
This entry was posted
on Tuesday, May 20th, 2008 at 8:44 pm and is filed under Drafts, Bull Riding Updates, Current Bulls, NBA Teams, NBA Players, NCAA Tournament, Derrick Rose, Michael Beasley, Kansas State, Deron Williams, NBA Blogs, Tyrus Thomas, Cleveland Cavaliers, Chicago Bulls, NBA, NBA draft, Eastern Conference, LeBron James, Cleveland Cavs, Kirk Hinrich, Chris Paul, Chicago Bulls.
You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.
You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
THE AUTHOR
RECENT ARTICLES BY DIVISION RIVALS
ARCHIVE
SPONSORS
22 Responses to “Bulls win the lottery”
May 20th, 2008 at 9:07 pm
Great write-up. Boy you Bulls fans are lucky. Both Rose and Beasley are potential stars in the making. On the other hand, the Knicks woes continue. I was just hoping…praying that either the 1st or 2nd pick will fall into our hands. Now, we’re definitely primed to get a guy who’s not going to contribute this season at MSG. Once again, congrats. It was definitely the luck of the draw, and luck was with the Bulls today.
May 20th, 2008 at 9:24 pm
Luck was really on our side and we needed this after the season we endured but the same can be said about New York. Atleast you guys do have a great coach and the level of play will be up in New York. Also with Donnie Walsh, you guys will be making some moves soon ans I trust they’ll pick someone who can help that team.
May 20th, 2008 at 10:03 pm
Rose as #1, get Calipari to coach (or if he can’t be prodded from Memphis, give Isiah Thomas a shot at coaching - as long as no GM or exec duties are involved, he’s decent).
May 20th, 2008 at 10:20 pm
I agree wholeheartedly Jon. The Bulls have to be willing to spend on either Calipari or Isiah Thomas. As long as Thomas isn’t dealing with any personnel changes than we would be good.
May 21st, 2008 at 6:36 am
Wow… when I got a text telling me the Bulls won the lottery, my eyes bugged out. Great news for Chicago.
May 21st, 2008 at 10:00 am
Yeah, this is a question without a wrong answer. It really doesn’t matter much who you take because they are both excellent players. However, any mention of Calipari or Thomas anywhere near this franchise is an accident waiting to happen. A BIG one.
May 21st, 2008 at 11:21 am
Hey Chris, one question. After the 9th pick of the draft was awarded to the Bobcats, the ESPN anchor who was hosting the show stated at that time that the Bulls had then vaulted themselves into the top 3 in terms of the draft. Obviously, the rest is history but how did he know this before picks #4-#8 were called/determined? You might say that I might have maybe heard wrong, but my English teacher, who happens to be an avid basketball fan, also heard this as well. Did the ESPN anchor have prior knowledge as to how the lottery was going to shape out to be or was there a trade I missed?
May 21st, 2008 at 12:10 pm
The lottery is only for the top 3 picks. After that, it’s decided by record.
May 21st, 2008 at 12:28 pm
How bout them damn good old Bulls?my fellow Bulls fans,we need to go with Michael Beasley with this first pick for being the best prospect available.We have not picked first since 1999,when we drafted Elton Brand.How the hell did Chicago get that first pick?????ohhh man, no way, that’s a damn trip.
May 21st, 2008 at 12:43 pm
I have faith in Isiah Thomas as a coach and a talent finder. He did great in Indiana but put together too many players in New York who needed the ball and had huge contracts.
Ashish, the draft lottery is for the 14 teams that didn’t make the playoffs. I didn’t hear the telecast but the Bulls were expected to atleast get the 9th spot due to their record. Here is how it was sipposed to pan out:
250 combinations, 25% chance of receiving the #1 pick
199 combinations, 19.9% chance
156 combinations, 15.6% chance
119 combinations, 11.9% chance
88 combinations, 8.8% chance
63 combinations, 6.3% chance
43 combinations, 4.3% chance
28 combinations, 2.8% chance
17 combinations, 1.7% chance
11 combinations, 1.1% chance
8 combinations, 0.8% chance
7 combinations, 0.7% chance
6 combinations, 0.6% chance
5 combinations, 0.5% chance
The Bulls had less than a 2% chance to get the number 1 pick. The lottery ball process is done in private however but I’m sure team officials and selected member/s of the media are allowed to view the process.
May 21st, 2008 at 12:46 pm
Michael Beasley is going to be a great talent but do we need him when we’re still developing Tyrus Thomas and we have Drew Gooden still under contract. I’m not comparing them by any means but a great floor general can take you places as shown by Chris Paul and Tony Parker, not excluding Deron Williams either.
May 21st, 2008 at 5:39 pm
Chris never mind Tyrus Thomas and Drew Gooden, always grab the best talent no matter what, we should take Micheal Beasley, instead of Derrick Rose.
May 21st, 2008 at 5:43 pm
Always grab the best prospect in the draft market no matter what, forget about how many totally similiar prospects you have on your roster.Micheal Beasley is the best thing on the market.
May 21st, 2008 at 7:12 pm
He’s one of the best, the other one being Derrick Rose. Michael Beasley is a forward at best instead of a power-forward. He has excellent footwork around the basket and will be the best post option when put on this team. Now consider Hinrich, not strong enough to stop bigger guards from getting him in foul touble, not fast enough to get by quicker individuals. Consider Rose, who has speed, strength and athleticism at that position that is almost unmatched at that position in the league.
My question to you now becomes how high do you think the ceiling is for both individual talents?
May 21st, 2008 at 7:15 pm
I’ve had this argument several times today. I have no hate or ill will towards Michael Beasley. I love the kid, He’s a BEAsT in every since of the word. There is just something about Rose that you just can’t pass up. If you’ve ever watched one of his games, you know when the ball is in his hands, you feel most comfortable in what your going to get out of that possession. Trust me, Beasley is going to be a star but I believe Rose can be a Superstar at this level.
May 22nd, 2008 at 11:08 pm
I like Beasley’s game but this draft reminds me of the Jason Kidd Glenn Robinson draft. Much like you I am completely enamored with Rose’s game and would take him. My gut tells me Paxson will take Beasley.
May 23rd, 2008 at 12:39 am
It is kind of similar but I have heard that Paxson will take Beasley, hopefully Paxson evaluates both this week and then makes his decision.
May 24th, 2008 at 6:58 am
With all due respect Chris, Pax has all the time in the world to make this decision. The last thing I’d want is for the Bulls to speed through evaluations and make a rushed decision on which superstar is going to be the new face of the program.
I don’t necessarily want to wait up until draft night—and odds are that won’t happen—but I won’t be satisfied until the Bulls have closely examined the situation for at least three weeks.
May 24th, 2008 at 7:01 am
Also, here are my thoughts on the matter: http://mvn.com/southsideperspective/2008/05/21/sealed-and-delivered-bulls-future-smells-like-roses/
May 24th, 2008 at 3:26 pm
I just know both Beasley and Rose are working out at the Tim Grover facility, Attack Athletics this week and they’re only working out for the Bulls. I’m hopeful that a decision can be made in three weeks but I still believe this will be a 60% Reinsdorf 40% Paxson decision.
May 27th, 2008 at 9:29 am
I can’t understand all the support for Beasley. Not that I don’t like him as a player, but this debate isn’t even close as far as I’m concerned. Beasley has character concerns - and do the Bulls need more character concerns on a team with a bunch of guys who quit midway through last season and a rookie who got suspended for yelling at a coach and now arrested?
Beasley has positional concerns, and do the Bulls really need more of those when Ben Gordon, Tyrus Thomas, Kirk Hinrich and Larry Hughes all have question marks about what position – if any – they are suited to play in the NBA?
And even if none of this were true, look what point guards like Chris Paul or Deron Williams have done for otherwise far less impressive players (Tyson Chandler, David West, Carlos Boozer, Ronnie Brewer, etc.). Derrick Rose can make the Bulls’ current big men more effective – Beasley will not likely make Kirk Hinrich into a top point guard, or Ben Gordon into a useful two.
Beasley could be a great player - he could be rookie of the year, he could dominate in the paint, but he is almost definitely not going to be a go-to ballhandler at the end of games, which the Bulls need far more than the low-post scoring that people are suddenly so enamored with. Throw in the fact that Rose is a Chicago kid who has never had any questions about his leadership ability or character, and this just seems like a no-brainer to me.
Rose, all the way.
May 27th, 2008 at 2:48 pm
Thanks Kolsky. I have had the same concerns but I realized most of Beasley character issues were when he was in high school. Still he is a scorer who position is not defined yet.
Rose would make the Bulls such a better team because he isn’t afraid to take a hit and get to the line and his vision is better than anyone on this current roster.
Leave a comment