I read the D-Rose article that highlights his rather lofty ambitions. I say, “more power to him!” I mean you set your goals high, and even if you do not reach the top of Mt. Everest, at least you gave it your all. Derrick Rose is going to go out and compete every night. The kid is a winner, and hungers for victory; and yet, his incessant need to win never comes at the expense of the team. In fact, Derrick Rose’s resume clearly reflects that he is the consummate team player, if not the quintessential team player.

It is very seldom that I jock somebody like this, but I really like this guy’s energy, and despite the lack of ego, he does exude a confident swagger which is needed to excel and produce in the NBA. Derrick Rose could have average 40 points per game while at Simeon High School, but even then he deferred to the best interest of the team. At Memphis, he could have probably averaged 20 – 25 points per game, but he is a true point guard that does whatever his team needs him to do.

Will Derrick Rose win the league MVP as a rookie? Highly unlikely, but I like his moxie and posturing in sharing his dreams and NBA aspirations. I won’t read too much into a statement that can be easily overblown. Instead, I just accept it as his goals for the 2008/9 NBA season.

If Derrick Rose contends for Rookie of the Year honors the Bull’s fortunes will be far greater than they were last season.

-Michael

Apparently, Rose doesnt think he will just win the Rookie of the Year next year but wants to tackle the MVP over the likes of Lebron, Kobe, Paul, etc. Do you still draft him #1? He is obviously delusional. The guy averaged 15ppg last year in college and now thinks the next year he can take the MVP?

Rose is the better over all player to me because he can bring it on both ends of the floor and as far as what Jaime said about him not wanting the ball in the clutch see the NCAA final game when he stepped his game up in the second half after a not so great first. One shot killed that great second half for Rose not to mention a National Championship for him and Memphis.

Beasley has the potential to be great. So did Glen Robinson and Derrick Coleman. If I were giving a major position in a firm and I had a good character guy and a bad character guy and each of them were great in talent, is it even a question? I guess the argument comes down to how much better of a player you think Beasley is and if that much better of a player is worth the risk of him not burning the place down.

Love the Bayless over OJ Mayo pick. I think Bayless is more of a “number one” type of a guy than OJ Mayo. Mayo seems like he doesn’t play hard (NH)all the time. Typical spoiled brat syndrome. I like Westbrook better than him too. He kid is the best athlete in out the the three by far (you tube that kid) and his question marks are his shooting but I’m not sure if he really had the opportunity to shoot the ball at UCLA on that team. The form on his jumper doesn’t look bad at all so it can develop…but I’ve been saying that about Andre Iguoldala’s too.

Derrick Rose led his high school Simeon to back-to-back state championships, a feat that is extremely difficult to accomplish in the State of Illinois. During this time, D-Rose, displayed the uncanny ability to lead and lead well, making his teammates better and helping them to rise to the challenge. Ironically, he did the same thing at Memphis minus the eventual championship; nevertheless, he led the Tigers to the NCAA Championship only to be outclassed by a more complete roster of McDonald’s All-Americans.

As I watched the Bulls painfully flounder last season . . . they seemed lost at times, and it seemed painfully obvious that the team: (1) lacked a true floor general to provide leadership, and to act as an extension of the coach on the floor; and (2) that the young Bulls also lacked a guard on their roster who possessed the physical ability, and skills to create, and effectively distribute the ball from the point guard or “1″.

Derrick Rose is a good kid, from a good basketball oriented family, and doesn’t carry any baggage with him–he is a model citizen clear and plain. Yes, we, Chicagoans want the Bulls to draft Derrick Rose because anyone that grew up hooping in or around the City of Chicago that has achieved the level of success that Derrick Rose has is going to be one of Chi-Town’s elite blue-collar ballers, (a true gladiator on the hard wood), and when it is a point guard of Derrick Rose’s calibre, well, of all my years of balling, watching ball and analyzing ball–Derrick Rose is the best guard to come out of Chicago since Isaih Thomas, and Derrick Rose is bigger and stronger than Isaih ever was off the dribble.

The Bulls can trade for the inside presence that management feels the team so badly needs or develop it; however, dynamic point guards are born not made. Tonight John Paxson who I have always admired and respected will make the biggest mistake of his GM career if he doesn’t draft Rose at No.1. If the Bulls draft Beasley, he will be a great player, but drafting Michael Beasley does not resolve the Bulls point guard and glaring leadership issues. The Bulls need a leader; draft a leader, Derrick Rose is a proven leader who will despite his youth stabilize what appeared to be an unstable franchise last season.