2008 Woodie Awards
Bulls look to the future with new draft pick Rose
Andrew Seligman (AP)
Issue date: 7/2/08 Section: Sports
Derrick Rose grew up a few miles from the United Center. Now he'll call the arena home.
The Chicago Bulls took Rose with the No. 1 draft pick on Thursday, opting for the point guard who led Memphis to the NCAA championship game over Kansas State forward Michael Beasley.
"It's been amazing just waking up in the morning, knowing that today is my day and knowing that I'm going to have a chance to be in the first two picks," Rose said. "Man, it's been crazy running around, making me feel important. You really don't want the day to end."
That the Bulls went with Rose wasn't a big surprise.
General manager John Paxson had hinted that they were leaning toward the dynamic floor leader who averaged 14.9 points and 4.7 assists while helping Memphis win a record 38 games in his lone season.
"I think he's a special type of talent," Paxson said. "I do feel the point guard position is really tough to come by. I think he had the unique strength component and speed component that a lot of point guards in this league don't have. ... He's 19 years old and we feel like for the next 10, 12 years we've got a position covered that is really important to have."
Not that choosing him over Beasley was easy. Both players probably could have jumped to the NBA from high school if league rules still allowed.
Instead, Beasley delivered one of the best seasons ever by a freshman, becoming just the third to lead the nation in rebounds at 12.4 per game while averaging 26.2 points. He had the second-most rebounds and third-most points by a freshman in NCAA history, helping Kansas State to its first NCAA tournament victory in 20 years.
He is projected to be a prolific scorer, something the Bulls certainly could use, and Paxson had said he would probably make a bigger impact next season.
Yet they saw Rose as a better fit after a disappointing 33-49 season.
The Bulls lacked leadership last season, and they are trying to pick up the tempo under new coach Vinny Del Negro without sacrificing much on defense - areas where Rose could help. They were also thinking long-term with the pick.
The Chicago Bulls took Rose with the No. 1 draft pick on Thursday, opting for the point guard who led Memphis to the NCAA championship game over Kansas State forward Michael Beasley.
"It's been amazing just waking up in the morning, knowing that today is my day and knowing that I'm going to have a chance to be in the first two picks," Rose said. "Man, it's been crazy running around, making me feel important. You really don't want the day to end."
That the Bulls went with Rose wasn't a big surprise.
General manager John Paxson had hinted that they were leaning toward the dynamic floor leader who averaged 14.9 points and 4.7 assists while helping Memphis win a record 38 games in his lone season.
"I think he's a special type of talent," Paxson said. "I do feel the point guard position is really tough to come by. I think he had the unique strength component and speed component that a lot of point guards in this league don't have. ... He's 19 years old and we feel like for the next 10, 12 years we've got a position covered that is really important to have."
Not that choosing him over Beasley was easy. Both players probably could have jumped to the NBA from high school if league rules still allowed.
Instead, Beasley delivered one of the best seasons ever by a freshman, becoming just the third to lead the nation in rebounds at 12.4 per game while averaging 26.2 points. He had the second-most rebounds and third-most points by a freshman in NCAA history, helping Kansas State to its first NCAA tournament victory in 20 years.
He is projected to be a prolific scorer, something the Bulls certainly could use, and Paxson had said he would probably make a bigger impact next season.
Yet they saw Rose as a better fit after a disappointing 33-49 season.
The Bulls lacked leadership last season, and they are trying to pick up the tempo under new coach Vinny Del Negro without sacrificing much on defense - areas where Rose could help. They were also thinking long-term with the pick.
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