Bulls take Chicago-product Rose with first pick
By the time the NBA draft commenced on Thursday night, most everyone knew which player the Bulls would pick and why. So the only question remaining is, "What now?"
As expected, the Bulls selected electrifying point guard Derrick Rose with the first pick. The Chicago native from Simeon High School will return home after spending one season at the University of Memphis.
Rose was only the second guard to be chosen with the first pick in the last 30 NBA drafts, joining Allen Iverson (1996) and Magic Johnson (1979).
The next step for the Bulls is changing their game. With an athletic point guard on board, they plan to use Rose's abilities to move faster on the court and find more open looks at the basket.
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"I think he's a special type of talent," general manager John Paxson said. "I think he has a unique strength component and speed component that a lot of point guards in this league don't have.
"Very honestly, at the end when we made our decision, it was unanimous among our scouts and coaches and myself. This is the direction we all wanted to go. It has nothing to do with the talent of (Kansas State forward) Michael Beasley. This had everything to do with the direction we felt was right for us."
Paxson also pointed out that the addition of another guard doesn't necessarily mean the next task is to clear room in the backcourt by making a trade. Many people expect Kirk Hinrich to be dealt before the summer is over.
"We're not going to rush into that because, for example, I think Kirk Hinrich can play very effectively with Derrick Rose," Paxson said. "I think Ben Gordon can play very effectively with Derrick Rose. I think Thabo (Sefolosha) can. We have Larry Hughes as well.
"Because of Derrick's age, we're going to be careful in how we go about this. We're not going to rush into giving up some of our players thinking that's going to solve all our problems."
Rose didn't show much emotion when the pick was made. He hugged some family members, then walked on stage with a normal smile.
Everyone in the NBA world seemed supremely confident that the Bulls would choose the hometown point guard, but Rose claimed he wasn't certain until Commissioner David Stern uttered the words.
"I really didn't know," he said. "I heard my brother saying something when we were at the table, but I really didn't pay too much attention to it.
"It's been amazing just waking up in the morning, knowing that today is my day. Knowing that I have the chance to be in the first two picks. It's been crazy running around. You really don't want the day to end."
Besides a conference call with reporters at the Berto Center, Rose also spoke to the media assembled in New York and participated in an online chat.
Rose said he wanted to go No. 1 simply because he's so competitive. He expects to play in an uptempo offense under new coach Vinny Del Negro and is looking forward to playing with Bulls forward Tyrus Thomas.
During his two-day visit to Deerfield last week, Rose got to meet Hinrich, Gordon and Joakim Noah. The incoming point guard made a point of saying nice things about his new teammates.
"I think I can blend in great (with the Bulls)," Rose said. "We're young, we'll be able to talk to each other. They're great guys."
Rose also spoke briefly about his Chicago roots , which include growing up in the Englewood neighborhood on the South Side and following his three older brother to the local basketball court.
"It was tough playing there where nobody was really doing anything," Rose said. "The only person who made it to the league from my neighborhood was (former Northern Illinois guard) Donald Whiteside. I didn't have anyone to look up to playing basketball except my brothers.
"I didn't have anything to do but play basketball all day until my mother would come and get me."
There were a few draft surprises Thursday, but not at No. 2 where Miami snapped up Beasley. The Heat created speculation that it didn't want Beasley by scheduling a late workout with USC guard O.J. Mayo, who went third to Minnesota.
In the second round, the Bulls chose Arkansas forward Sonny Weems, then worked out a trade that would send him to Portland for 7-foot Omer Asik from Turkey, who is expected to spend the next few years in Europe while the Bulls keep his rights.