2008 NBA Draft Preview

As always, I write my draft previews based on the picks that I would make, not those I think the General Managers will make. On that note:

1. Chicago Bulls: PG Derrick Rose, University of Memphis
The Bulls drafted Joakim Noah and Tyrus Thomas in the last two drafts, so Michael Beasley, while a better player than either, duplicates their position, size and skills. Nobody on the Bulls possesses the skills or physical attributes of Rose. I would draft Rose and watch Ben Gordon walk as a free agent rather than pay him anything close to 10-million per year. I would either move Kirk Hinrich to SG or trade him. I would move Rose into the starting line-up with Thabo Sefolosha in the back court and Luol Deng, Tyrus Thomas and Joakim Noah in the front court and watch the young players develop, with Hinrich, Andres Nocioni and Drew Gooden supplying veteran leadership and shooting off the bench. The team still lacks a go-to scorer on the block, but Rose makes the game easier for everyone else and hopefully a new coach and a new system makes Thomas and Noah more productive.

2. Miami Heat: PF Michael Beasley, Kansas State University
The Heat gets a PF to team with Dwyane Wade as a perfect inside-outside combination. They can use Udonis Haslem as trade bait and make a run at a free agent point guard like Toronto's Jose Calderon. A Calderon-Wade-Shawn Marion-Beasley starting line-up would be a massive upgrade over the end of last season and enough to get back to the play-offs.

3. Minnesota Timberwolves, C Brook Lopez, Stanford University
Lopez adds a seven-footer to the rebuilding TWolves and provides another low post option, and a defensive presence, next to Al Jefferson. While Rose would have been the perfect pick, Lopez is a great addition for a team that lacked a good center.