
06-25-2008, 10:54 AM
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 | NBA & Iowa Hawkeyes Moderator | | Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Iowa
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| Bulls won't show their hand Rose or Beasley? Paxson mum on Bulls' draft plans -- ChicagoSports.com Quote:
In one breath, Bulls general manager John Paxson said he's "probably leaning a certain way" on his draft-day decision between power forward Michael Beasley and point guard Derrick Rose.
In the next, he talked about new information he's waiting on regarding both players and a Tuesday afternoon staff meeting to review athletic and psychological test results for the umpteenth time.
Welcome to Overanalysis, er, Due Diligence 101, where everybody wants an answer that won't be revealed until Thursday night.
"We've just been sitting debating it and sometimes probably overthinking it," Paxson said. "We're not trying to be coy. But it doesn't serve any purpose to say what direction we're going to go."
With most league observers convinced the Bulls will draft Rose, Paxson continued to tout the positives of both players in a lengthy media session outside the Berto Center.
"The interesting thing is we're talking about two totally different types of players, two different positions," he said. "Beasley, there is no doubt he's going to come in the league and score. Derrick Rose is a kid who may not start off as fast as Beasley but will impact winning."
The day after the Bulls overcame 1.7 percent odds to win the NBA draft lottery, Paxson made clear only an outstanding offer would pry the No. 1 pick from his hands. While confirming he had fielded trade offers, Paxson went even stronger with this stance and all but ruled out a draft-day deal.
"Everybody thinks you're out there to make a financial deal of some type and we're not," he said. "That's not the direction we're going. We have a unique opportunity to get a terrific talent and we'll do that. Now if somebody wants to call and offer the best players in the game, we'll talk about that.
"But when is the first pick traded? It just doesn't happen."
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