Even when healthy and rested, I think we’ve found a flaw in D-Wade’s game. He sucks at lotteries. As you’ve no doubt heard elsewhere, the coachless Chicago Bulls secured the no. 1 pick in June’s NBA draft after a comedic ceremony in Secacus, NJ last night, a result that has Blog-A-Bull gloating, “a 1.7% chance, and Pax finally got his lucky break. All the great ones need it sometime.”
It’s early, but so far it isn’t a situation where I knee-jerkedly say “take Rose” (which I did), and then as time goes on I start to think more and more about Michael Beasley. It’s pretty much still all in favor of selecting Derrick Rose (above).
He just seems the exact type of player, a real upgrade, that can be immediately plugged in without any messing with the rest of the roster. If anything he’ll improve it, as while Rose won’t make anyone better, he’ll can get them open.
Plus there’s something to be said about how much easier it’s been made for guards to dominate the league. As ‘Scotter’ said in the comments, you’d abide by the old advice to ‘go big’ if Beasley was projected to be a Duncan or Hakeem. But he’s a slightly undersized power forward, who can rebound but isn’t going to be a defensive game-changer. To me, if you’re passing on Rose for a big man, it better be for one that can dominate both ends.
And looking position-wise with this roster, with a player as good as Rose (can be), there’s no guard logjam to influence the decision. Heck, was there anyway? There’s one above-average guard on the roster, and that’s Gordon. Why pass on Rose to just keep that status quo? You can make a similar case for Beasley as an upgrade over the Tyrus/Noah/Gooden frontcourt rotation, but I was actually more comfortable with those three than the backcourt (and there’s always the chance of getting a frontcourt upgrade through other means).
This is the type of decision that will bring out some, er, ‘strong’ feelings. For either guy (and even moreso for the fringe that want to deal the pick). But we should all remember that this will be remembered as a great night however it works out. A time to praise the great Steve “Stan” Schanwald, and for comments like (my favorite of the night, courtesy of RogersPark Kris) “I guess we won’t be re-signing Duhon”.
Tuesday’s big loser (besides Detroit)? Mike D’Antoni, who opted for the Knicks rebuilding project / Dolan’s millions rather than preside over a young, talented Bulls squad that might finally be ready to contend in the weak Eastern Conference as soon as next season.