Derrick Rose: Saving Grace for the Bulls?

As reported yesterday, ESPN.com projects that the Chicago Bulls won’t make the playoffs in the 2008-09 NBA season, but will the Bull’s draft pick Derrick Rose save the day? The Chicago native was the number one prospective point guard out of high school and declared for the NBA draft subsequent to his freshman year at the University of Memphis. Rose was selected first in the draft by his hometown team as the Bull’s first No. 1 pick since Elton Brand in 1999 and fans are crossing their fingers that Rose will dominate the floor and help the Bulls pull through in the 2008-09 NBA season.

For his part, Rose is excited to be playing in his home town, for a team that hosted NBA greats like Michael Jordon and Scottie Pippen. Rose was selected over Kansas State forward Michael Beasley and the Bulls’ general manager John Paxton is confident in their decision. With Bulls fans in a frenzy after recent Deng and Gordon news, Rose is getting a lot of attention despite his young age and the team didn’t pick him first to let him sit on the bench so he is sure to get plenty of court time this season.

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