My Bulls Draft Prediction

Please allow me to channel my inner Swami Murph as I play "I predict..."

Now, say it like you mean it.

I PREDICT...

...that with the first pick in the NBA Draft, the Chicago Bulls will select Derrick Rose, guard, Memphis.

Not that I necessarily agree with the idea of drafting the local product over the low-post scorer the Bulls have been searching for.

If the Bulls do select Rose with the No. 1 pick, I fully expect them to take a big man with their early second round pick (No. 39 overall). The Bulls could theoretically select forward Joey Dorsey in the second round, making it an all-Memphis draft night. Indiana forward D.J. White, a first-round talent derailed by injuries and being under Kelvin Sampson, will also likely be available at that point in the draft.

If GM John Paxson is reading this blog, has a stroke of genius and decides to choose Beasley, expect the Bulls to go guard in the second round. Maybe Beasley's Kansas State teammate Bill Walker, a 6-foot-6 shooting guard/small forward, would intrigue Pax. Washington State's Kyle Weaver, IUPUI's George Hill and Mississippi State's Jamont Gordon are other prospects that mgiht pique the interest of the Bulls' front office.

The Chicago Bulls Should Select Michael Beasley

Bulls GM John Paxson shouldn't tempt fate. When his team won the NBA Draft Lottery despite a 1.7% chance, he should have taken the hint that the prayers of he and his fan base were going to be answered.

And those prayers were to draft Kansas State forward Michael Beasley.

Beasley is the inside presence that the Bulls and their fans have been clamoring for since the Paxson regime took over for "The Sleuth" Jerry Krause. Paxson would be foolish if he were to let this opportunity fly by.

The 6-8 forward is a natural born scorer who is blessed enough to be able to score in a variety of ways from power post moves to shots from beyond the arc. And statistically, he was better than his point guard counterpart.

"Beastley" averaged 26.2 points, 12.4 rebounds and shot 53.2% from the field and 37.9% from the 3-point line in his only season in Manhattan, Kan. After his first three college games, No. 30 proved to the world he was worth the hype, averaging 30 points and 20 rebounds.

While Rose dominated the little sisters of the poor...er...Conference USA, Beasley dominated the monsters of the Big 12, leading the Wildcats to a NCAA Tournament berth and a victory over O.J. Mayo's Southern California team.

Against the National Champion Kansas Jayhawks, Beasley averaged 32 points and 8.5 rebounds. He put up 30 points and 15 rebounds in his only appearance against the Texas Longhorns, who bowed out to the national runner-up Memphis in the Elite 8.

He had 13 games in which he scored more than 30 points. He had 2 games in which he scored more than 40 points, including a career-high 44 in a 92-86 loss against Baylor, another NCAA Tournament team.

Lost in all the scoring is the fact that he only had four games in which he didn't grab double-digit boards. In addition, there were only 5 games in which he didn't record a double-double. For those of you who are mathematically challenged (like I am), that means The Manhattan Man-Child posted 28 double-doubles.

That's not sick, that's ill!

In the end, drafting Beasley would allow the Bulls to build from the inside out. They could team Beasley with Joakim Noah and Luol Deng in the front court. They could deal Drew Gooden, Tyrus Thomas and Kirk Hinrich for a proven NBA point guard and keep Ben Gordon at the two-guard.

Speaking of Thomas, the Bulls chose him with the No. 2 pick over the back-to-the-basket presence of fellow former Big 12 star in Texas' LaMarcus Aldridge. Maybe Johnny Jumpshot should learn from his past mistake.

The Chicago Bulls Should Pick Derrick Rose

After seeing what Chris Paul and Deron Williams did for their respective NBA franchises, selecting Derrick Rose with the No. 1 overall pick should be a no-brainer.

He fits the three phases the Bulls are lacking.

Statistically

In his only year at Memphis, he led the Tigers to a 37-win campaign while averaging 14.7 points, 4.7 assists and 4.5 rebounds per game. He also led The Boys of Beale Street within seconds of a national title and when it mattered the most Rose averaged 20.8 points, 6.5 rebounds and 6 assists per game in the NCAA Tournament while upping his field goal percentage to 51.8-percent.

He Fits One Of The Bulls' Needs

And even though the Bulls are loaded at the guard position, each of them is coming off down years and would be best suited as trade bait. Neither Ben Gordon nor Kirk Hinrich excels at running the point, but if they were put on the trading block Gordon's ability to fill it up and Hinrich's defensive skills could be valuable to some teams in need.

Rose would be the pure point guard that would instantly make everyone on the floor better. Imagine him feeding Thabo Sefalosha, Luol Deng, Tyrus Thomas and Joakim Noah. It makes you want to see it live, doesn't it?

The Ultimate Marketing Tool

Let's be honest, like any professional sport, basketball execs main concern is making the big bucks. Drafting Rose would instantly remove the Bulls from the back burner and place them as the headliner in the sports pages when the fall rolls around.

The promise of the Simeon grad coming home and running Vinny Del Negro's Suns-Lite offense could be pleasing to the eye, especially after last year's offensive debacle. Remember, it was former Suns head coach (who almost landed with the Bulls before signing with the New York Knicks) Mike D'Antoni who said Rose was Jason Kidd with a jump shot.

Combine that with the fact that his hometown team has the No. 1 pick and D-Rose can all but punch his ticket back to The City of Wind.

Vinny Del Negro. Really?

Vinny Del Negro might have a funny name, but the fact that he will be coaching the Chicago Bulls for the next two years is no laughing matter.

After more than 50 days of hunting the Bulls settled for Del Negro, who has never (ever) coached at any level of basketball. So tell me, when did Chicago become a place for on the job training?

Don't worry, I'll wait.

Hiring Del Negro was an irresponsible hire for a franchise that should be using the fact that it dominated the '90s with the best player to ever step foot on the hardwood and brought six championships to hire the best and brightest.

Bulls GM John Paxson really let his fandom down with this hiring. Remember when the search started and he promised a defensive minded coach who would resonate with the fans? I do. Remember how the Bulls were linked to the defensive minded Rick Carlisle? I do. Remember how the Bulls were close to landing the offensive juggernaut Mike D'Antoni? I do. Remember when the Bulls decided they were gonna take a ride in the way-back machine and hire Doug Collins? I do.

And while Del Negro might be a great hire down the line, he's not right for this team. He's not right for the city.

Let's get it straight, I don't hate Del Negro. I don't hate Paxson. I do hate the hire. I do hate how Paxson has teased us with Kevin Garnett, Pau Gasol and Kobe Bryant. I do hate how Ben Wallace was a total flop, even though everyone with a pulse in the basketball world new that was a bad idea.

I do hate how the best coach for this team is coaching 90 miles north of Chicago. I do hate how The Chairman has handcuffed Johnny Jumpshot to the point where Vinny Friggin' Del Negro will get on the job training for a city starving for a successful basketball team.

And yes, I realize it's easy to blame Jerry Reinsdorf because of his penny pinching ways but I calls 'em the way I sees 'em.

Good luck Vinny. You'll need it.

Three Play Featuring The Chicago Sports Scene

It's a day like this that the dirty sports reporter inside of me dies for. And if you are lucky enough to be a sports editor for one of the Windy City's newspapers, you've had yourself a newsday.

You'd also be lucky if you got the opportunity to go home with one of these girls.

Just sayin'.

BENSON BURNOUT

Cedric Benson's time in Chicago is up.

The lethal combination of poor performance on the field and poor decision making off it have cost Benson his job. The No. 4 overall pick in 2005 was released by the Bears Monday afternoon when coach Lovie Smith told Benson to go home when he showed up for practice.

Benson's career to this point has been star-crossed, to say the least. He never appealed to the fans, and how could you when you have a lengthy hold out before you've even taken a snap in the NFL. Then once in The League, Benson was out played by journeyman Thomas Jones mostly because Jones was willing to be a good teammate who had a history of being a gym rat. And when he did get playing time, Cedric was less than entertaining (did you see what I did there?) and would have likely ran second string behind second round draft pick Matt Forte.

Move over Cade McNown, Curtis Enis and Rashaan Salaam because No. 32 will likely go down as the No. 1 bust in the franchise's history.

MY COUSIN COACH VINNY

The Chicago Bulls have officially wasted all of the momentum and buzz generated by winning the No. 1 pick by taking the cheap way out.

Sources say the Bulls are close to naming Mike D'Antoni Doug Collins Vinny Del Negro as the team's next head coach. The former San Antonio Spurs guard (whose name loosely translates to "Vinny of the Negroes) has absolutely no coaching experience, but is currently the assistant general manager of the Phoenix Suns and has interviewed for the vacancies in Chicago and Phoenix.

A move like this just shows how cheap Jerry Reinsdorf is. The Bulls had a chance to bring in an offensive mind such as D'Antoni, a former Coach of the Year in Avery Johnson, a teacher such as Collins. But settled for Del Negro, despite the best candidate just might have been Boston Celtics defensive assistant Tom Thibodeau. (Yeah, I'm agreeing with Jay Mariotti. Deal with it.)

Del Negro's coaching career will be decided by whoever the Bulls choose as their No. 1 pick. Will the former point guard lean towards Derrick Rose or the front court beast Michael Beasley.

THE SECOND CITY'S FIRST PLACE BASEBALL TEAMS

Chicago's baseball teams aren't taking a back seat to anyone, whether it be in their own towns or in their respective divisions.

The Chicago Cubs sport the best record in Major League Baseball and are preparing to host the Atlanta Braves, who might be playing without All-Star Chipper Jones. Five days after being chewed out during his start against the San Diego Padres, Jason Marquis puts forth his best effort of the season.

Coincidence? I think not!

The Chicago White Sox ain't to shabby either. The South Sider's completed a perfect homestand with a 7-5 win over the second-place Minnesota Twins and are currently enjoying a 7-game winning streak while averaging more than 9 runs per game in that span. And to think, Ozzie Guillen was tired of watching this team.

Who the hell gets tired of watching a first-place ball club? Well, it's understandable if you have to do it from U.S. Cellular Field.

This is a hell of a way to end a short week of blogging. I'm going on vacation and will be away from my computer 'til at least Monday. But don't worry, I have stuff in the can that will be unleashed beginning next Tuesday. Hopefully.

Unfortunately, I won't be able to put out my unique spin on the Bulls coaching search which would have netted the team (presumably) its first player-coach, Michael Beasley.

Topics that might be touched on are as follows:

• Where has Mark Prior gone?
• Chicago's Olympic Hopes
• Sleeping with the enemy (like when you're most hated rival joins your favorite team)
• The statistical anomaly that was the 2005 Chicago White Sox
• And hopefully a preview of the Crosstown Classic

That's it. I'm gone to pack. Take care!

Deal Or No Deal: D-Wade's Homecoming?

The only thing that might prevent Derrick Rose's homecoming party would be the homecoming of a fellow Chicagoan.

One rumor suggests that the Miami Heat might package the No. 2 pick in the NBA Draft along with Dwyane Wade in exchange for the No. 1 pick currently held by the Chicago Bulls. From there, the Heat would select Rose.

Last week at The Big Dead Sidebar, I suggested that Bulls GM John Paxson explore all possibilities, including acquiring Rose and Beasley.

That deal might be just a pipe dream, but this rumor just might be the most tempting offer the Bulls will receive before draft day. Don't forget, Wade was the man Paxson wanted in the 2003 draft before Miami scooped him up, leaving Chicago to settle for Kirk Hinrich.

Wade, who starred at Richards High School and Marquette, grew up idolizing Michael Jordan and would be the Bulls' first superstar since Jordan last graced this city in 1998.

The deal would also allow the Bulls to select Kansas State forward Michael Beasley, presenting Chicago with the best case scenario of a star point guard and the low-post scorer Bulls fans have been craving.

Imagine the buzz that would come with teaming the former NBA Finals MVP with the guy who was college basketball's best player despite not winning the award.

How good would the Bulls lineup be if Wade, Thabo Sefolosha, Luol Deng, Beasley and Joakim Noah.

Imagine how much better that lineup could be if the Bulls could trade valuable pieces such as Kirk Hinrich, Ben Gordon and Drew Gooden

23 days 'til the Bulls are officially on the clock.

Jackpot!

If my name was Jerry Reinsdorf, I'd be buying 100 tickets to play the Illinois Lottery's Mega Millions game.

On the same night his baseball team beat Cleveland Indians starter C.C. Sabathia for the first time at Comiskey Park/U.S. Cellular Field, his basketball team won the No. 1 pick in the NBA Draft.

Despite the odds, which pegged the Bulls with a 1.7-percent chance to land the top pick, the Bulls leap-frogged from the No. 9 position all the way to the chance to grab the impact player of their choice.

So who do you want?

Kansas State forward Michael Beasley was an absolute beast in his one year on campus.

The 6-foot-9-inch future star averaged 26.2 points and 12.4 rebounds, leading the Wildcats to the NCAA Tournament. He shot over 53-percent from the field and showed a feathery touch from beyond the arc, making over 37-percent of his 3-point shots.

Beasley is the low-post presence the Bulls have been missing. He's a game-changer who I think will average better than 20 points and 10 rebounds and be a star in the league.

Then there's Memphis point guard Derrick Rose, the Chicago native that averaged 14.9 points and 4.7 assists per game in his only collegiate season.

In the NCAA tourney, Rose averaged 20.8 points and 6 assists for a team that was a few missed free-throws away from winning the NCAA title. If not for the heroics of Davidson's Stephen Curry, Rose would have been the face of The Big Dance, especially after hitting the shot of the tournament.

The Bulls need Rose, who would be next in the line of elite guards that are taking over the basketball world such as Chris Paul, Deron Williams and Steve Nash. His addition would allow General Manger John Paxson to package Kirk Hinrich and/or Ben Gordon in an off-season trade.

But the Bulls need Michael Beasley, too. Chicago's professional basketball team hasn't had a low-post presence since Elton Brand averaged 20 points and 10 rebounds in his two seasons in Chicago. Drafting Beasley would allow the Bulls to package either Drew Gooden, Tyrus Thomas or Joakim Noah in a trade.

The best thing about being No. 1 is that the Bulls can't lose!

I'm sure Mike D'Antoni is kicking himself as he looks forward to coaching the Knicks and working with Italian project Danilo Gallinari.