It's only been a couple hours. I think the high has come down (a bit), and I'm starting to try and actually think about what the Bulls really should (and will) do.
It's early, but so far it isn't a situation where I knee-jerkedly say "take Rose" (which I did), and then as time goes on I start to think more and more about Beasley. It's pretty much still all in favor of selecting Derrick Rose.
He just seems the exact type of player, a real upgrade, that can be immediately plugged in without any messing with the rest of the roster. If anything he'll improve it, as while Rose won't make anyone better, he'll can get them open.
Plus there's something to be said about how much easier it's been made for guards to dominate the league. As 'Scotter' said in the comments, you'd abide by the old advice to 'go big' if Beasley was projected to be a Duncan or Hakeem. But he's a slightly undersized power forward, who can rebound but isn't going to be a defensive game-changer. To me, if you're passing on Rose for a big man, it better be for one that can dominate both ends.
And looking position-wise with this roster, with a player as good as Rose (can be), there's no guard logjam to influence the decision. Heck, was there anyway? There's one above-average guard on the roster, and that's Gordon. Why pass on Rose to just keep that status quo? You can make a similar case for Beasley as an upgrade over the Tyrus/Noah/Gooden frontcourt rotation, but I was actually more comfortable with those three than the backcourt (and there's always the chance of getting a frontcourt upgrade through other means).
So far, Chad Ford, my man T-Zilly, and Stacey King (yes, a lottery win will get me to watch ComcastSportsNet) say to draft Beasley. I saw Jay Bilas on SportsCenter advocate Rose. I'm sure there will be plenty of 'expert' opinions each way. I'm so deep in the Rose camp that I'm convinced that anyone who thinks the Bulls should take Beasley is biased as a result of being scared of a Derrick Rose led Bulls team.
But besides what I think, and what the experts think, it's likely the Bulls believe Rose is the guy. Based on all the PaxSpeak we've heard over the years, they value leadership, work ethic, and even more oblique attributes like 'resonating with our fans'. And yes, I make fun of Pax when he talks like that, and will continue to do so. But, all those intangibles point to Derrick Rose. Especially the 'resonate' part if you judge the poll here (70/30 in favor of Rose), and the fact that Rose is from Chicago.
This is the type of decision that will bring out some, er, 'strong' feelings. For either guy (and even moreso for the fringe that want to deal the pick). But we should all remember that this will be remembered as a great night however it works out. A time to praise the great Steve "Stan" Schanwald, and for comments like (my favorite of the night, courtesy of RogersPark Kris) "I guess we won't be re-signing Duhon".
A 1.7% chance, and Pax finally got his lucky break. All the great ones need it sometime.