Is Michael "Beastley" a Bull?
5/21
First Pick Back Where It Belongs
With the NBA's playoff final four under way, there was something to cheer about for those teams who had the misfortune of missing the playoffs, the NBA Draft Lottery. It's where dreams can come true for some teams. Getting a top three pick in the NBA draft usually will bring success in a team's future. On Tuesday, the ping pong balls were let loose and when all was said and done, the first pick ended up where it belonged. No, not in Miami, where the Heat had the NBA's worst record. They ended up with the number two pick. The pick was nabbed by the Chicago Bulls.
The Bulls had a 1.7 percent chance to nab the first pick, and by some great stroke of luck, that was all they needed. The Bulls ownage of the selection ends a run of small market teams snagging the pick (the last three years it was owned by Portland, Toronto, and Milwaukee respectively). The NBA should be very excited that a great star such as Derrick Rose or Michael Beasely will end up in one of the most popular NBA cities.
It's also a great opportunity for the Bulls to escalate themselves into a playoff team. They were considered major underachievers this season after making the playoffs the last three and having a roster loaded with young talent. Either Beasely or Rose should be the last piece of the puzzle. The question now is simply who to take. Do the Bulls want a guy who can both bang inside and shoot the J in Beasely, or do they want a playmaker at point guard who can both defend and score in Rose? I think the choice will be Rose when all is said and done. Rose would allow them to move Kirk Hinrich to the two and make Ben Gorden one of the games best six men. They have an incredible young and talented front line with guys like Deng, Nocioni, Noah, and Tyrus Thomas. Beasely would just give them even more of a log jam up front.
