BEASLEY OR ROSE? WHAT SHOULD THE BULLS DO?

Now I know my site has been bombing everyone with Beasley and Rose posts/ videos every single day since the Bulls got the 1st pick. I also know that if I make anymore posts about Rose or Beasley, people might start sending me hate mail for playing this out so much. So before you stop reading, I ask you guys to bare with me one more time for this special Beasley/Rose post, because I am really excited about this one.

Basically I know everyone is sick of hearing what I think about this topic, so I thought it would be awesome if I could get in touch with some of my favorite writers from different publications/blogs/friends out there about this debate, to see what they thought about Rose vs Beasley. The responses I got were amazing, and I think everyone is really going to love them, so without further wait, here goes. We bring you the Around the Horn version of Rose vs Beasley...

Lang Whitaker from SLAM says - I think the Bulls almost have to draft Derrick Rose. I know they already have about 100 guys under contract who are 6-4 or smaller, but I don't think you can discount that Rose is from Chicago. If the Bulls take Rose and Beasley turns out to be a monster next season, they can always play the "Well, we went local, etc..." card. But the only thing worse would be if Chicago passes on Rose, he goes elsewhere (especially to another team in the East like Miami) and becomes one of the best guards in the NBA, because the Bulls will get vilified in perpetuity for passing on the local guy. I think Beasley might be the better individual player of the two, but Rose is a helluva guard and he's going to be really good. And I assume the Bulls and the people of Chicago would like for him to be good in his hometown.

Henry Abbott from ESPN'S TRUEHOOP says - At the moment, everyone in the NBA seems to need a good point guard. And there is a small chance that Michael Beasley is a little nuts.

So I'd sign up for Rose, and not look back. Good, healthy, quick legs at both ends of the floor, stopping penetration on defense, and getting into the lane on offense ... that's gold in the new NBA.

Jeff Fox from SLAM and COLLEGEHOOPS says - I'm always a big proponent of teams, especially ones in the lottery, taking the best possible prospect available when it is their time to pick, regardless of whether the prospect fills a particular void on the team's roster. With that being said, I feel that Derrick Rose and Michael Beasley are close to equal prospects, so the Bulls should draft whichever one fills a biggest need for their team. They already have a young, above average point guard in Kirk Hinrich, so Michael Beasley would make more sense for them to pick. With Beasley on the roster there wouldn't be any immediate need to make any trades and they would have a young, low post scoring threat to go along with all their young wing and guard talent. However, if they feel that they can get good value in a trade for Hinrich (or by trading Ben Gordon and moving Hinrich to the shooting guard spot) then picking Rose would be a smart pick.

Mr. Shoals from FREE DARKO says - I'm mildly obsessed with Beasley, but Chicago has to take Rose. Beasley would be just another promising young player, albeit right away the best on the team. Rose, on the other hand, actually helps the rest of the Bulls develop. And given how much untapped potential is still on that roster, that really can't be undervalued. Plus, if the Hornets made the playoffs on the strength of Paul/Chandler alley-oops, why can't Tyrus Thomas yet become a key contributor?

My buddy Jared from SPORTZ UNDERCOVER says - Derrick Rose. The Bulls don't need Beasley. They have four forwards (Deng, Nocioni, Gooden and Thomas) who all have some elements of Beasley's game. Where the Bulls are lacking is not having an All-Star caliber point guard. Hinrich is a point guard that keeps to the books. He's a simple pick-and-roll point guard who can set up the open man and knock down the three. Pretty standard stuff. Rose will blossom as a point guard beyond basic point guard duties, especially with his ability to penetrate into the paint as easily as Tony Parker does; the only difference, posturing people on a daily basis. The other big names in the Bulls back court, Gordon and Hughes, are both bred as shooting guards. Can you imagine Rose leading the break with Gordon and Hughes on the wings, and then Thomas trailing? Look out! With a starting lineup of Rose, Hughes, Nocioni, Deng and Gooden with Gordon off the bench, you're looking at a Phoenix Suns-like rotation. To validate the pick, the catalysts for most of the teams in the later rounds of this year's playoffs were point guards.

Carolyn from And One - Cleveland.com had the following to say -

This Cavs fan is too intoxicated with thoughts of the 19th spot to pay attention to the Bulls. However, an anonymous Chicago-based friend offers these thoughts:

The Bulls basically have to pick Derrick Rose, since they don't know what the contract status will be of Deng and Gordon until after 7/31/08. In other words, they don't know who they can package in trade, they don't know who they'll shop, they don't know who they'll be keeping long-term...thus, the best athlete with the highest 'up-side' and the most versatility must be their pick: Rose.

Our buddy Mac from Mac G's World went with Mr. B-EASY - Beasley is the best player in the draft, a young Chuck Barkley, and he will be 20/10 next year for sure. I think D Rose is legit too and he reminds me of Devin Harris but unless Rose develops a jumper, he will just be a good NBA player, not a great one.

I hate the whole "local kid comes home angle" and it could be more of a detriment to his development, see Eddy Curry and Starburry as examples.

Beasley will get 10-12 points off Offensive rebounds a game, how can you pass up on that?

I am not a Bulls fan and root for the Wizards so I can not give you an honest opinion on who they should take but giving John Paxson's recent track record, it is most likely he will screw it up. BJ Armstrong was a better player than Pax and would have been a much stronger personnel guy. I am Hawekeye so I am always biased towards BJ. Beasely,Rose,Mayo are the top 3 players.

Isaac from the World of Isaac had this to say - If the Bulls don't take Rose, I'd consider them the stupidest organization ever.

The NBA is built around guys who can attack the basket and draw fouls. If you ask me, he is automatically a top ten point guard in the league the minute he makes his first appearance on a NBA floor.

That's how good I think he is.

*Side note:

I actually despise the Bulls being a Pistons fan but just wanted to give my opinion!

My good friend Pravs, from BULLS LIVE, who I attend Bulls games with, had this to say - Ok, so I don’t know for sure. But it seems pretty obvious. Rose has the power to bring out the best in the rest of the currently underachieving Bulls. Think D Rose to Tyrus as you would CP3 to Tyson Chandler. Think about the drive and kick out to Ben Gordon, who will finally not have to create his own shots, but just knock down open J’s. Think about the hand off to Noah or Gray, or the ability to find Deng for a greater percentage of his cuts to the basket. He will instantaneously inject offense in our defensively minded group. Let’s just hope doesn’t hog the ball as much as the last Bulls player to wear a "Rose" jersey. Sorry if you read this, Jalen.

Brandon from BallerBlogger said this -

The defensive rule changes the NBA implemented before the 2005 NBA season have made it impossible to keep explosive guards out of the paint. It's the primary reason Steve Nash was able to win back-to-back MVP's in 05' and 06'. It's also the reason why the Bulls have to select Derrick Rose. I'm not as sold on the kid as most people. I think he has the physical tools and seems to be a person of character. But I have questions about his fundamentals and court-vision.

If the Bulls select Rose than who do they part with? Hinrich or Gordon? If I were Paxson, I would keep Hinrich. Kirk had an off year but All-Defensive 2nd team combo guards are hard to come by. I'm also partial to two combo guard backcourts. I think Rose and Hinrich could co-exist until the Bulls acquire a true shooting guard...which Gordon is not.

My buddy Suman, of GMAIL Crew fame, and who has written for us before went with Mr. B-Easy as well, and here is why -
I think the pick should be Beasley. Anybody that could put up those kind of numbers in college deserves to be #1. The last 2 freshman that put up those kind of numbers: Melo and Durant...enough said.

Don't get me wrong I like Rose too, but if I have the number 1 pick I want a face for my franchise. Beasley has the personality to go with his game. Everyone says the NBA is changing but since when has having a dominant big guy gone out of fashion. I was sold when he called out
the future national champs and then delivered.

Besides, haven't the Bulls been complaining about how they are a jump shooting team without a low post presence? They have all the pieces in place. This is almost the same exact team that beat the Heat in the playoffs two years ago. I think Hinrich bounces back this year. You have Gordon and Deng now as your second and third options, a hustle guy in Noah, and someone to show Beasley the ropes in Drew Gooden. They were talking about how they needed a low post presence, and when one falls in their lap they are instead going to change the makeup of their team and start over? I don't get it.

BTW, the GMAIL CREW Voted 7-2 in favor of taking Rose over Beasley.

My buddy IP, from the Rubber Sole Crew, and who has also written for this blog before goes with Mr. Rose - When Augustin and Rose went head to head last year, Rose owned him. Augustin dominated players that he was better than and had some decent games against good comp, but in the big game in the tourney he got owned just like D-Collison got owned by D-Rose. He is def not better than Derrick. Hite why are you so down on Rose? I mean he played against the big guards form Kansas and shined, and he dominated Collison and Augustin, owned Georgetown, beat up on Pargo and Gonzaga, and killed against Tennessee. I don't see too many holes in his game. The one guy he had trouble with was Mayo but Mayo couldn't really do anything against Rose either. Plus Rose elevates his teammates game.

I mean DROSE is one of my favorite players but even objectively looking at Rose play, he imposes his will on a game and you cant say that about Augustin. I think Bayless has a little bit of that trait but Rose just puts his stamp on a game and dictates to the other team. Augustin is a good guard don't get me wrong but he is behind Rose Mayo and Bayless.

BTW, Rubber Sole Crew Voted 1 for Rose, Hite going with the stunner and voted for Mayo, and Tom said he doesn't care who the Bulls take, it can be Deandre Jordan for all it's worth, because Kobe has ruined the NBA for him.


And that my friends, are the opinions of tons of people about Beasley and Rose, not named Docksquad, so I hoped you enjoyed it. I sure did.

I just wanted to take a second to give props to everyone that took time out of their busy schedule to reply to me and talk about this issue. We're just a small time blog out there, but everyone was nice enough to respond. Just wanted to say thanks guys, and I definitely look forward to hearing some feedback on this one.

5 hours til the Draft, I can't wait...