On Monday afternoon, Kansas State freshman phenom Michael Beasley entered his name into the NBA Draft as expected. Beasley is considered by most to be hands down the top prospect in college, and can make an immediate impact on whichever team may choose the 6'10 forward from Frederick, Maryland. Memphis point guard Derrick Rose is expected to declare for the draft as well in the next couple of weeks, and he has traveled behind Beasley's shadow for much of the NCAA season. Rose took over the NCAA Tournament, and undoubtedly raised his stock. So, the question arises, who will be the first pick in June's NBA Draft and who should be?
Personally, I think that teams will make a mistake passing up on Derrick Rose. My prognostication claims that Beasley will be the first pick to the winner of the lottery, which should be either the Grizzlies or the Knicks. If these teams did not need a point guard, I would strongly advocate selecting Beasley. However, when you are an absolute cellar-dweller in the NBA (Knicks) and have no signs of improving anytime soon, I think you need to build from the bottom, and Rose is the answer. The amazing thing about Rose is that he does not need to score to influence a game, and I do not believe the same for Beasley. Rose managed to put this Memphis team completely over the top this past season after being crushed in the elite 8 the last two seasons. Rose brought a winning attitude, and completely made his teammates, like CDR and like Antonio Anderson, incredibly better. If a GM is trying to build a team, why go for a kid that has unbelieveable skill, but no interest to play any defense, and no interest to engage his teammates in the game? I understand Kansas State did not have the talent that an NBA team had, but at the same time Beasley would grab the ball at the hashmark, go one on one and take a pull-up three. Now if it goes in, wow. That will not happen in the pros, and he will not be able to take the ball one side of the court to the other untouched and unmatched because of the speed for his size. Beasley is immensely talented, and will be an amazing pro; I think the Wildcat forward had the best freshman impact on his team since Carmelo Anthony, and there is something to be said for that. However when you look at Rose, I see a winning attitude, a desire to make his teammates the best they can be, and most of all a completely well-rounded skilled player. If I had the second pick in the draft and the top pick went to Beasley, I would feel like the Chicago Bulls in the 1984 draft, when a certain athlete with a will to win fell to them at #3. There is an MVP candidate in the Western Conference right now that has led his team up the standings for the last three seasons, and they are now winning the conference and look to have a path to the NBA finals. He is a point guard that does not have to score to influence the game, Chris Paul. The Suns, Jazz, Spurs, Hornets, Rockets and Mavericks all have point guards that do not score to influence a game, is it a coincidence that they are all going to the playoffs? Meanwhile, I do not see many successful teams that have a 6'10 forward that likes to take the ball, play point guard, jack three-pointers and not play defense. The answer to who should and will be the first pick of the draft smells like a Rose.
Derrick Rose, Memphis,
Ht: 6'3, Wt: 195
Hometown: Chicago
Yr: Freshman
14.9 PPG, 4.7 AST, 4.5 REB, 1.2 STL, 0.3 TPG
PG Michael Beasley, K-State, F
Ht: 6'10, Wt: 235
Hometown: Fredrick, MD
Yr: Freshman
26.2 PPG, 12.4 REB, 1.4 BLK
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