Today the Bulls signed Luol Deng to a six year deal worth up to $80 million. Now is $80 million worth it for a guy who put up 17 points a game with 6 rebounds and 2 assists? I don’t think so.

Looking at those numbers, the best you can say about them is that they’re good, not great, not worth $80 million. I understand that the Bulls have made it clear that they want Deng to be the corner stone of the franchise, but shouldn’t your cornerstone put up better numbers and play more than 63 games?

Deng has only been in the league three years and although he has shown a good deal of talent, he had injury problems all of last year and has yet to prove that he can make a significant enough impact in which the team can depend on him in crunch time. He isn’t a player that’s going to take over the game, he’s a guy who will give you points somewhere in the high teens and put up a solid shooting percentage. But, if the Bulls want to improve with the amazing amount of talent they have in Derrick Rose, Ben Gordon, Tyrus Thomas, and more they should have traded Deng for someone more talented.

I just think the Bulls could have got two players with equal amount of talent for the price of Deng. There were talks of a trade of Deng to the Utah Jazz, but I guess the Bulls were to adamant about signing Deng to a long term deal. Since Michael Jordan retired and left the Bulls, the Bulls have had ten years of outstanding young talent that could never develop. They have the same dilemma this year and I think it’s their last shot before they run out of chances to become the dynasty they once were.

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It’s the beginning of a rivalry. The Bulls played the Heat yesterday in a summer league game in which the two first picks in this year’s NBA draft matched up. Beasley made a statement with his play yesterday that he, not Derrick Rose should have been the first pick.

Beasley shone yesterday putting up 28 points on 9-21 shooting leading his Heat to a convincing 94-70 victory over the awful looking Bulls. Playing with a fractured sternum, Beasley made an impact immediately as he scored 9 points in his first 8 minutes. He dominated throughout showing what NBA prospects talked about pre-draft with tremendous range, an outside and inside game.

As for Derrick Rose, he didn’t do much. He did have 10 points but on 3-8 shooting and 5 turnovers. Now obviously you can’t look at this game and say that Rose was the wrong choice, but what it does show is how Rose can easily get lost in a game. He can fade at times and not be the main guy on the team. Whereas Beasley can be the go to guy throughout a game and continually draw a double team even if he’s not playing well.

Before the draft I strongly believed that the Bulls should choose Beasley. They did not. I just have a feeling that Rose won’t be the top caliber kind of player that Beasley will be. I think in today’s game Beasley’s attributes a much more important to a team in order to create a championship team. As of late, point guards don’t win championships, big men, and good shooting guards do. Just look at Nash, Kidd, Marbury, Francis, and I’ll even go far back as Stockton. I just think that Rose will fall into that category of being a great regular season player but not good enough for a championship, if he’s lucky.

Technorati Tags: Championship Derrick Rose, Derrick Rose, Derrick Rose Bulls, Derrick Rose Bulls First Pick, Derrick Rose Injury, Derrick Rose Michael Beasley, Derrick Rose Michael Beasley Matchup, Derrick Rose Stephon Marbury, Derrick Rose Stephon Marbury Comparison, Jason Kidd, John Stockton, Michael Beasley, Michael Beasley Better Than Derrick Rose, Michael Beasley Derrick Rose Comparison, Michael Beasley Heat, Michael Beasley Injury, Michael Beasley Should Have Been First Pick, NBA Draft 08, NBA Prospects, NBA Summer League, NBA Summer League 08, NBA Summer League Derrick Rose, NBA Summer League Derrick Rose Stats, NBA Summer League Michael Beasley, NBA Summer League Michael Beasley Stats, Stephon Marbury, Steve Francis, Steve Nash

With a 1.7% chance of winning the first selection, the Bulls won the first pick in one of the most talented drafts in a while. The discussion has been, should they take Derrick Rose who is the better player, or Michael Beasley who is the better fit? Rose is destined to be a star while Beasley has all the tools to become as dominant as say Amare Stoudemire. But, which college standout will they choose? Let’s see.

1. CHICAGO BULLS- MICHAEL BEASLEY- Between the better player and the better fit, you have to go with the better fit if you’re the Bulls. The Bulls were lucky enough to get the first pick and they already have a playoff team if not for the mess of a season they had last year. They are short on big men and have been for a while. Beasley will complete this team making the Bulls a legit threat in the East.

2. MIAMI HEAT- DERRICK ROSE- Now there’s no way two teams are going to pass a player this talented up in a row. The Heat will gladly take Derrick Rose in the second pick which will, like the bulls, complete a playoff team. With Dwayne Wade and Shawn Marrion already on the team, one more all-star won’t hurt. If Wade can stay healthy, Rose will work well with him and possibly create a great one-two punch that teams will find hard to deal with. A great pick up for the Heat and I expect a rivalry to develop between the Heat and the Bulls with their picks. This debate of who should go first in the draft will live on throughout both Beasley and Rose’s careers.

3. MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES- O.J. MAYO- With all the controversy surrounding O.J. Mayo he was destined to fall further down in the draft but it looks as if the Timberwolves have their man. Mayo is truly talented at 6’5 and has the figure to go inside and shoot the outside shot. The only worry about Mayo is his off-court problems that could hurt the way he plays on the court. Let’s just hope we get to see this kid play basketball without any distractions.

4. SEATTLE SUPERSONICS- JERRYD BAYLESS- To compliment the sensational play of Kevin Durant, expect the Sonics to choose Jerryd Bayless at point guard. Coming from Arizona he should turn out to be a solid NBA player and playing along side Durant won’t hurt a bit. Durant showed last year that he can put up over 20 points a game with no one around him, so expect his numbers to rise significantly along side Bayless.

5. MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES- KEVIN LOVE- After trading Pau Gasol to the Lakers last season, the Grizzlies are down on athletic size. Kevin Love fills that void extremely well. He is capable of wearing down defenses and creating an atmosphere that Memphis will love (pun definitely intended). The sad thing though is that the rest of the Grizzlies are not good enough to make him any better. Give Love a couple of seasons before his talent begins to show, either that or another team.

6. NEW YORK KNICKS- BROOK LOPEZ- Oh, the New York Knicks. They have the highest payroll, one of the best coaches in Mike D’Antoni, and the sixth pick in the draft. How could they possibly mess up next season? I’m not sure how they’ll do it this season but a way to prevent it is drafting a big man in Brook Lopez who can actually do something with the basketball other than cry. He is a little undersized at center (7’0 245 lbs.) which could create a problem for the Knicks. But, they’ve needed a big man ever since Patrick Ewing left and maybe Lopez could develop into a player of half of Ewing’s talent and get this team back in the playoffs.

7. LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS- RUSSELL WESTBROOK- The Clippers will hopefully have a 100% healthy Elton Brand next season which leaves them wondering, who else do we have? No body really, in order to compete in the West. Russel Westbrook can pass and score and has the tools that NBA teams want. There is a desire in the league now to have a point guard who can score and pass (Chris Paul, Dwayne Wade, Steve Nash just to name a few), and Westbrook is what the Clippers need in order to keep up with the competetive West. Either that or they can try and move to the Eastern Conference, where they would probably be a 4th or 5th seed in the playoffs.

8. MILWAUKEE BUCKS- JOE ALEXANDER- You haven’t heard much from the Milwaukee Bucks in the past decade and I don’t think you’ll hear more in the the next. Joe Alexander fills a void in the small forward position but even in the East the Bucks don’t have enough talent to make it. Alexander is a solid player who may find himself lost in this league on the Bucks. Only players with extraordinary talent like Ray Allen can make a name for themselves on the Bucks, and even Allen had to leave in order to be truly appreciated by the rest of the league.

9. CHARLOTTE BOBCATS- ERIC GORDON- I see a lot of upside in these Bobcats. Since forming in 2004 the Bobcats have slowly evolved into a fairly good team. They have significant talent in Emeka Okafor, Adam Morrison, and Jason Richardson. Not only that they are now being coached by one of the greatest coaches in recent years in Larry Brown. If the Bobcats can steal Eric Gordon at number nine, the Bobcats have even more to work with.

10. NEW JERSEY NETS- DANILO GALLINARI- After a disapointing season which included the departure of one of the franchise’s best players Jason Kidd, the Nets have some rebuilding to do. They have a banged up Richard Jefferson, who at times looks like one of the best players in the league, but cannot overcome the injury bug. Vince Carter should be one of the league’s elite, but fails to match the potential he showed in his Toronto Raptor years. Danilo Gallinari will be the first pick from overseas, coming from Italy, and will be expected to come off the bench for Jefferson, and soon replace Jefferson. He is one of the best players in Italy and could possibly translate to the NBA. In a couple of years this could be considered the steal of the draft. Personally though, I think the Nets will need to make a significant trade that will get rid of Jefferson and bring in one or two brand name players in order to fix this once dominant franchise.

Technorati Tags: 2008 NBA Draft, 2008 NBA Playoffs, 2008-09 NBA Season, 2009 NBA Season, Adam Morrison, Brook Lopez, Brook Lopez Stanford New York Knicks, Bucks Joe Alexander, Bulls Win Lottery Draft, Charlotte Bobcats, Charlotte Bobcats Eric Gordon, Charlotte Bobcats NBA Draft 08, Chicago Bulls, Chicago Bulls First Pick, Chicago Bulls First Pick Derrick Rose, Chicago Bulls First Pick Michael Beasley, Chicago First Pick NBA Draft, Chris Paul, College Basketball, College Basketball NBA Draft 08, Danil Gallinari NBA Draft 08 Nets, Danilo Gallinari, Danilo Gallinari NBA Draft 08, Derrick Rose, Derrick Rose first Pick, Derrick Rose Miami Heat Second Pick, Dwane Wade, Dwayne Wade, Dwayne Wade Miami Heat First Pick, Eastern Conference, Elton Brand, Elton Brand Russell Westbrook, Emeka Okafor, Eric Gordon NBA Draft 08, Jason Kidd, Jason Kidd Trade, Jason Richardson, Jerryd Bayless, Jerryd Bayless Arizona, Jerryd Bayless NBA Draft 08, Jerryd Bayless Supersonics, Joe Alexander, Joe Alexander NBA Draft 08, Kevin Durant, Kevin Durant Draft 07, Kevin Durant Jerryd Bayless, Kevin Love, Larry Brown, Larry Brown Bobcats Coach, Los Angeles Clippers, Los Angeles Clippers 7th Pick NBA Draft 08, Los Angeles Clippers NBA Draft 08, Los Angeles Lakers, Memphis Grizzlies, Memphis Grizzlies 5th pick NBA Draft, Memphis Grizzlies Kevin Love, Memphis Grizzlies NBA Draft 08, Miami Heat, Miami Heat 2nd Pick Draft, Miami Heat Derrick Rose, Miami Heat NBA Draft 08, Miami Heat Pick Derrick Rose, Michael Beasley, Michael Beasley First Pick, Michael Beasley Second Pick Miami Heat, Mike D'Antoni, Mike D'Antoni NBA Draft 08, Milwaukee Bucks, Milwaukee Bucks NBA Draft 08, Minnesota Timberwolves, Minnesota Timberwolves NBA Draft 08, Minnesota Timberwolves O.J. Mayo, Minnesota Timberwolves third Pick, NBA, NBA Mock Draft, NBA Mock Draft 08, NBA Mock Draft Chicago Bulls First Pick, NBA Playoffs, New Jersey Nets, New Jersey Nets NBA Draft 08, New York Knicks, New York Knicks Mike D'Antoni, New York Knicks NBA Draft 08, New York Knicks NBA Draft 08 Trade, O.J. Mayo, O.J. Mayo controversy, O.J. Mayo NBA Draft 08, O.J. Mayo USC, O.J. Mayo USC Controversy, OJ Mayo Off-court problems, Patrick Ewing, Pau Gasol, Pau Gasol Trade, Ray Allen, Richard Jefferson, Russell Westbrook, Russell Westbrook Clippers, Seattle Supersonics, Seattle Supersonics 4th Pick NBA Draft 08, Shawn Marrion, Steve Nash, Supersonics choose Jerryd Bayless, Toronto Raptors Vince Carter, Vince Carter, Westbrook Chris Paul Comparisons

Donnie Walsh made his first bad decision yesterday when he decided to hire Mike D’Antoni as head coach of the New York Knicks. D’Antoni, who left the Phoenix Suns, failed yet again this season to get into the finals, despite having one of the most talented teams in basketball. Despite this failure, Donnie Walsh and the 23-59 Knicks (2nd to last in the Eastern conference) thinks that D’Antoni will solve the numerous problems the Knicks face this upcoming season. This is what D’Antoni had to say about his future with the Knicks,

We want to win a championship. I know all the components you have to have. You have to have great offense and great defense.

What the Knicks really needed was a defensive-minded coach to help their awful performance on defense this and the past several seasons. D’Antoni created one of the most effective run and gun offenses over in Phoenix, yet still failed to make it past the Western Conference Finals. As they say, “Defense Wins Championships.” How is bringing an offensive minded coach to a young, immature team going to help?

The Knicks are one of the youngest teams in the league and their inexperience was shown last season when, despite having the highest payroll in basketball, they could not make the playoffs of one of the worst Eastern Conferences to date. The 8th seeded Atlanta Hawks were 8 games under .500 but still found themselves an astonishing 14 games ahead of the lowly Knicks. With useless defenders like Jamal Crawford, Eddy Curry, and Stephon Marbury on the team how does D’Antoni expect to fix this team. Crawford is in the game strictly for offense, which is so sparatic and inconsistent that there is really no need for him to take minutes away from less talented but more consistent players. Eddy Curry is awful on defense and can’t even block spam from his e-mail. Marbury, a.k.a Starbury, has been anything but a star. Someone needs to bury this star six feet under so that New York doesn’t have to deal with his cry-baby attitude.

The only thing that D’Antoni and the Knicks can hope for is to win the lottery. The draft lottery that is. If they can capture a solid position in which they can get Memphis guard Derrick Rose they may have a chance in the future. But that may take several seasons for D’Antoni to develop a team around a young guard. Something that he did well with Phoenix and Steve Nash, but was never done well enough to win a championship.

D’Antoni has no idea what he’s getting into. This team ruined the character of one of the most talented and successful players of all time in Isiah Thomas. Sure D’Antoni has won coach of the year in 04-05. Sure he has led the Suns to 54 wins or more in the past 4 seasons. Sure he has a .608 winning percentage in the past 6 seasons. But where’s the ring Mike? No where. You know why? Because he had Shaquille O’Neal, Amare Stoudemire, Steve Nash, Leandro Barbosa, and Grant Hill on his team and still failed to win. Because he couldn’t handle the ego of Shawn Marion, whose ego would be overshadowed tenfold in New York. And finally because he is 26-25 in the playoffs. A .500 team may get into the playoffs but they will never win the playoffs playing .500.

By Sean Connolly

Technorati Tags: 2008, Amare Stoudemire, Atlanta Hawks, basketball, Defense, Derrick Rose, Donnie Walsh, Eastern Conference, Eddy Curry, Grant Hill, Isiah Thomas, Jamal Crawford, Knicks, Knicks Problems, Leandro Barbosa, Mike D'Antoni, New Coach, New York Knicks, Phoenix Suns, Playoffs, Sean Connolly, Shaq, Shaquille O'Neal, Shawn Marion, Stephon Marbury, Stephon Marbury Trade, Steve Nash, Western Conference

Kansas Wins – Photo: Jessica Rinaldi/Reuters

But I want to write about the other end of sports. I want to talk about losing. You don’t have to be a brain surgeon to figure out that there is a loser for every winner. The joy of Kansas is balanced out by the despair of Memphis. The moment of glory that Mario Chalmer’s take with him throughout life is balanced by the regrets that Chris Douglas-Roberts and Derrick Rose will carry because they missed those free throws.

Robert Dozier after loss – Photo: Eric Gray/AP

How often do we talk about the one that got away? The ground ball that the steady and talented Bill Buckner missed. The easy put-backs that Charles Smith missed, denying the New York Knicks that all-important victory. The last minute fumble on the two-yard line.

Those of us who play sports and those of us who watch all-too-easily embrace the unrealistic idea that we can always win. Perhaps that why those who make the most understandable of human errors suffer far more than they deserve. There’s talent, but there’s also luck and also misfortune.

Darrel Arthur dunks over Joey Dorsey – Photo: Jessica Rinaldi/Reuters

Everybody knows that in the last 75 seconds of the fourth quarter Memphis missed four out of five from the foul line. The free throws that would have guaranteed victory for Memphis. Everybody knows that Mario Chalmers, Kansas’ great guard, hit that three-pointer with less than 3 seconds left. The question is, though, how many people will remember that Chris Douglas-Roberts had 22 points while freshman Derrick Rose finished with 18.

Mario Chalmers’ 3 pointer

Chalmers, deservedly, ended up the MVP. Douglas-Roberts and Rose, left with the most bitter taste in their mouths, will do their best to shift their thoughts to the upcoming NBA draft.

And, of course, the media absolutely loves the winner as it discards the loser. It didn’t take long to unearth the story of Chalmers’ youthful prediction. This is how ESPN put it:

Mario Chalmers had been in the Alamodome before for a title game. Four years earlier, he was a spectator and told his father he’d win a title. Against Memphis, Chalmers rescued Kansas from near-certain defeat and gave the 2008 NCAA tournament its signature.

Most of us will never, ever have that Mario Chalmers’ moment. So it’s important we think about and appreciate all those who made that final game so exciting. The game that kept us up past midnight. In the end, you can look at the stat that made the difference. Kansas made 14 of 15 free throws, an incredible .933%. Memphis shot 12 of 19, .632%

Derrick Rose flies vs UCLA

But let’s spend a moment celebrating the losers. Memphis won a record-setting 38 games this season. Derrick Rose had such an impressive rookie season, many are predicting he may be the #1 draft lottery pick. And at the worst, he may slip to #2 if someone goes for Michael Beasley. Chris Douglas-Roberts put on such a show that he too has greatly raised his stock in the NBA draft.

All props to Kansas for a great run and a great finale. They are the champs and they certainly deserve it. But let’s hear for the losers. Memphis had an absolutely great year. And like the rest of us, they are human.

Technorati Tags: Chris Douglas-Roberts, Darrel Arthur, Derrick Rose, Joey Dorsey, Kansas, Mario Chalmers, Memphis, NCAA, Robert Dozier

For the moment, I’m talking about the young men. Of course, there’s always the close call of who is in and who is out, and who is where and why. But that was Sunday and today’s Tuesday and it’s all about to begin with Coppin State playing Mt. St. Mary’s playing the opening-round game in Dayton.

So whether you’re lucky enough to be in the seats in Dayton, Anaheim, Denver, Omaha, D.C., Birmingham, Little Rock, Raleigh, Tampa, Charlotte, Phoenix, Detroit, or Houston or watching TV like me, it’s March Madness.

Michael Beasley at the McDonald’s

For those of you who love the pro game, this is your chance to see some of the most likely lottery picks in the upcoming NBA draft.

You’ve got perhaps the future #1 pick, forward Michael Beasley of Kansas State going up against the guard phenom, O. J. Mayo of Southern Cal at 6:10 on Thursday night , March 20 in Omaha. Beasley averaged 26.5 ppg with 12.4 rebounds.

O. J. Mayo

Then there’s Indiana’s Eric Gordon playing Arkansas the next night. And whatever you do, don’t miss the chance to see the extraordinary Derrick Rose – the guard who might actually take the #1 draft pick from Beasley – lead Memphis vs. Texas-Arlington on Friday.

Derrick Rose – Photo Bill Waugh/AP

And, of course, there’s Kevin Love of UCLA and Jerryd Bayless of Arizona.

Now we all know that as amazing as it is to watch the superstars, b-ball is the supreme team game. So who makes it to the Final Four this year? The Big Dance? Who wins it all?

Did you pick one of the four tops seeds: North Carolina, Memphis, UCLA or Kansas? Did you go for one of the always dangerous #2s: Tennessee, Georgetown, Duke or Texas? Having just watched D. J. Augustin of Texas come close, nothing would surprise me this year.

Anyway, get ready for some great basketball. And let me know who you picked and what you’re thinking.

Technorati Tags: 2008 NBA Draft, basketall, Big Dance, college hoops, D. J. Augustin, Derrick Rose, Final Four, Jerryd Bayless, March Madness, Michael Beasley, NCAA, O. J. Mayo