Rose, Beasley Lead NBA Draft Class
NCAA Basketball
Rajiv Leventhal
Issue date: 4/22/08 Section: Sports
The bounce of a ping pong ball could alter an NBA franchise's fate for years. Last year, for example, it was pre-determined that two teams in the 14-team lottery would be declared winners while every other team would be losers. This was because Greg Oden and Kevin Durant were considered the only two franchise-saving players in the draft.
And while Oden hasn't even played a game and Durant's Sonics were miserable, both Portland and Seattle will be grateful that the ping pong balls bounced their respective ways. While this year's draft class is flooded with youth and upside, there are three players that stand out to me as potential franchise-savers in the NBA.
NCAA Tournament games can easily change the landscape of the draft - and that's what happened this year when Memphis's Derrick Rose took his game to another level in the six most important games of the season. He didn't need to take over games like many other freshmen, so he played the perfect point guard role for most of the year. Then in March, we saw the Rose that will be a big-time NBA player sooner rather than later.
Rose averaged 21 points, seven rebounds and six assists per game in the tournament, leading his team to the national championship game, where he brought the Tigers from behind and put them in a great position to win. Despite the title-game loss, Rose helped his draft stock infinitely with his tournament play. There were times when he looked so fast and explosive it seemed no one could guard him and keep him out of the paint.
At 6-foot-3, Rose is big enough to defend most guards in the NBA, yet is still athletic enough to take anyone off the dribble. The only knock on Rose is his ability to consistently hit the outside jumper, but that was a concern with Chris Paul too, and look how that turned out. I could only dream about what Rose could do in a few years if teamed up with Dwyane Wade and Shawn Marion in Miami or Kevin Durant with the Sonics for the next 10 seasons. Whoever gets him will get one of the most gifted point guards to come out in recent years, and a future superstar.
And while Oden hasn't even played a game and Durant's Sonics were miserable, both Portland and Seattle will be grateful that the ping pong balls bounced their respective ways. While this year's draft class is flooded with youth and upside, there are three players that stand out to me as potential franchise-savers in the NBA.
NCAA Tournament games can easily change the landscape of the draft - and that's what happened this year when Memphis's Derrick Rose took his game to another level in the six most important games of the season. He didn't need to take over games like many other freshmen, so he played the perfect point guard role for most of the year. Then in March, we saw the Rose that will be a big-time NBA player sooner rather than later.
Rose averaged 21 points, seven rebounds and six assists per game in the tournament, leading his team to the national championship game, where he brought the Tigers from behind and put them in a great position to win. Despite the title-game loss, Rose helped his draft stock infinitely with his tournament play. There were times when he looked so fast and explosive it seemed no one could guard him and keep him out of the paint.
At 6-foot-3, Rose is big enough to defend most guards in the NBA, yet is still athletic enough to take anyone off the dribble. The only knock on Rose is his ability to consistently hit the outside jumper, but that was a concern with Chris Paul too, and look how that turned out. I could only dream about what Rose could do in a few years if teamed up with Dwyane Wade and Shawn Marion in Miami or Kevin Durant with the Sonics for the next 10 seasons. Whoever gets him will get one of the most gifted point guards to come out in recent years, and a future superstar.
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