The Official Site of Derrick Rose

Mon, Jun 22nd 2009, 11:15

Bulls' draft plans all center around Derrick Rose

The lights came back on at the Berto Center on Sunday, even if fallout from the storms that rocked the Chicago area still played havoc with the building’s air conditioning.

The stifling, lit gym served as a metaphor for the franchise, one year after lucking into the No. 1 overall pick: Derrick Rose has brightened the Bulls’ future, and the heat is on for all subsequent personnel moves, including Thursday’s NBA draft.

Has anyone stopped to think about what the Bulls’ 2008-09 season might have looked like had they not parlayed 1.7 percent odds in the May 2008 draft lottery to land the right to pick Rose?

Granted, other factors contributed to the Bulls recovering from the 2007-08 train wreck that produced only 33 victories. But with apologies to John Salmons, Ben Gordon, Joakim Noah’s improvement and others, Rose was the biggest reason for a playoff berth, 41 victories and tying for the ninth-biggest improvement in the 43-year history of the franchise.

ose’s presence hasn’t just — deep breath here — helped merchandise and ticket sales, erased the need to land a franchise player and, barring injury, locked in the first- or second-most important position for the next 10 years or so.

It has redefined the Bulls’ style and thus affected whom the team might draft.

Notice the abundance of space-the-floor shooters who have flashed their wares at draft workout after draft workout? Beyond insurance for the possibly departing Gordon, that’s a nod to Rose.

Notice the plethora of athletic big men who have strutted their stuff? If you want to run with the Bulls, you have to be able to keep up with Rose.

Notice the strong defensive rebounders whom the Bulls are considering? You can’t start a fast break without the ball.

“Of course Derrick is the centerpiece of what we’re doing moving forward,” general manager Gar Forman said at his introductory news conference in May.

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