Progressive thinking and the No. 1 pick in the draft

While most of Chicago is arguing the merits of drafting Memphis' Derrick Rose or Kansas State's Michael Beasley, one future sportswriter is thinking progressively.

Yeah, that's me.

While the Rose/Beasley debates give the city something to argue about other than where Alfonso Soriano should bat, Bulls General Manager John Paxson should be thinking about how he can get Rose and Beasley.

That's right, Rose AND Beasley. I didn't stutter.

Rose could become the next elite NBA point guard, you have to take him. Beasley is the inside scoring presence Bulls fans have been clamoring for in the last two years.

So instead of settling on one, why not try to get both?

It sounds like the impossible dream, but it can happen. All you need is to be a little bit creative. Think about it people, you have the No. 1 pick in the draft. You have to take in consideration each possible scenario.

The Bulls have plenty of chips to trade, and you've got to believe that no one is untouchable. The Miami Heat, who currently hold the second pick, have their hearts set on Rose. And if he's not available, the pick is rumored to be on the block.

There have to be some pieces that Pat Riley has got to like.

The Heat already have a superstar point guard in Dwyane Wade and a great supporting star in forward Shawn Marion. Adding a few proven NBA players would put the Heat back in the NBA playoff picture without a doubt.

How about adding Kirk Hinrich to team in the backcourt with D-Wade. Hinirich is a solid defender who can guard the opposition's point or shooting guard.

Ben Gordon is a flat-out scorer who can average 20 points if he starts or if he comes off the bench. A backcourt of Wade and Gordon could light up the guard combos of most NBA teams.

Adding Luol Deng would give the Heat size in the backcourt, for Deng would have to move over to the two-guard position. It's not like he's not athletic enough for the job. A 6-8 two-guard that can slash, defend and shoot out to 20 feet would have a lot of open shots with opposing defenses focusing on Wade and Marion.

I could go on, mentioning the value of Tyrus Thomas, who could turn into Tyson Chandler under the direction of D-Wade. Or how Drew Gooden could be a valuable frontcourt player in the MIA. Or how Joakim Noah would benefit from moving to the 305 -- mostly because he'd be closer to his college campus.

Oh wait, that didn't work out too well, did it?

With the No. 1 pick in the draft, the Bulls have the ability to do something special. But with the talent and potential that could (and should) be on the block, the Bulls could kill two birds with one stone.

Rose, Larry Hughes, Thabo Sefolosha, Beasley and Aaron Gray (?) could compete in the Eastern Conference tomorrow.

While I ponder the possibilities of having the two best prospects in this year's draft on the 2008-09 Bulls, I can only hope that Johnny Jumpshot is doing the same.

-LMed

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