In a few minutes, the Chicago Bulls are expected to select Memphis point guard Derrick Rose with the top pick in the NBA draft. In a few years, the Bulls will look back and say, "WTF!."
Rose was elevated to the top spot in the 2008 draft partly because the Bulls hold the top choice, Rose is a Chicago native, and partly because Rose played well in the Final Four and nearly led Memphis to a victory in the national championship game.
Some say the 6-1 Rose, tutored by former NBA point guard Rod Strickland, is a hybrid, a mixture of Jason Kidd and Deron Williams with a little bit of Chris Paul. I say that's crazy.
Rose has lottery-pick talent but I don't consider him the best player of the draft. He can't shoot, he's only an average passer and a poor free-throw shooter.
If the Bulls are smart, they'll go against conventional wisdom and select Michael Beasley.
Beasley is a beast. He's only 6-7 without shoes but plays a lot bigger than his height. He has a 7-foot wingspan and can play the small and power forward positions.
He can play inside and outside. His game is already NBA ready. He can shoot the three, can take people off the dribble, a fierce rebounder and doesn't shy away from contact.
For some reason that I can't comprehend, Beasley has managed to fly under the radar all season.
He was easily the best freshman in the country but O.J. Mayo (USC), Kevin Love (UCLA) and Rose grabbed all the headlines. Beasley attended Kansas State, which is not exactly college basketball heaven.
Now that we are minutes away from the draft, NBA teams are overlooking Beasley again.
If my name was Pat Riley, I would not let Beasley get past the No. 2 slot. All week, the Heat has been rumored to have been shopping the No. 2 pick. If Miami trades the pick, it would be the second-biggest mistake of the draft. The Bulls passing up on Beasley would be the first mistake.
Draft notes: The New York Knicks are feverishly trying to move the draft board so they can take the player Mike D'Antoni and Donnie Walsh covet, O.J. Mayo. The Timberwolves hold the third pick and they are likely to take Mayo. Minnesota is hoping that Foye and Mayo can play together in the backcourt....
Not sure where Kevin Love will fall but whoever takes him won't be disappointed. Despite measuring at just 6-7, Love plays big in the post. He has great hands and can trigger a fastbreak at any time with his Unseld-like outlet passes. Love also trimmed down so he should be a lot quicker in the pro game....
The Clippers moved up so they can nab Eric Gordon. The 6-2 Gordon can play the point or SG and reports say that his injured left hand has fully healed....
Guards will be the main dish in the draft led by Rose, Gordon and Mayo. Because of the success of young PGs like Chris Paul and Deron Williams, teams have put a higher premium on point guards, which is why guys like Jerryd Bayless, Russell Westbrook, D.J. Augustine and Mario Chalmers should cash in....
My sleeper pick is Memphis 6-6 guard Chris Douglas-Roberts. There is a chance that he'll go in the top 15 but most have him pegged in the late teens and early 20s. I think Douglas-Roberts is a top 10 player. He can both guard positions and can hold his own against some small forwards. He plays hard on both ends and is not afraid to take big shots. He's the type of tough-minded player the Lakers should consider. Only problem is, the Lakers don't have pick in the first round.
Keywords: Bulls, Derrick Rose, Michael Beasley, NBA draft
