NBA draft: Rose is smelling like a rare No. 1

In a downsized, miniaturized world gone mad, the NBA finally, inevitably, has come to the party.

Forgoing an ages-old mantra that you can't teach size, the Chicago Bulls, barring any late theatrics, appear poised to select University of Memphis freshman point guard Derrick Rose -- all 6 feet, 2 1/2 inches of him -- first overall in Thursday night's draft.

It's a selection that would both contradict decades of NBA draft history and illustrate the influence of young point guards such as New Orleans' Chris Paul and Utah's Deron Williams in a changing game where, because of NBA rules changes and interpretations, a little man now can reign.

Only one guard -- Allen Iverson in 1996 -- has been selected No. 1 overall since the Los Angeles Lakers in 1979 took Magic Johnson, and he was a 6-9 point guard.

Time and again, size has trumped all on draft night.

Sometimes, history will show, it's for good reason.

Sometimes, not: Andrew Bogut and Marvin Williams over Deron Williams and Paul in 2005. Michael Olowokandi over Mike Bibby in 1998. Glenn Robinson over Jason Kidd in 1994. Derrick Coleman over Gary Payton in 1990. Mark Aguirre over Isiah Thomas in 1981.

"Bigs," Timberwolves Vice President of Basketball Operations Kevin McHale said, describing the league's historical draft preferences. "And biggers."

Little becomes big

Phoenix point guard Steve Nash won his second consecutive league MVP award in 2006, the same year Miami guard Dwyane Wade led his team to the championship by reaching the free-throw line for 97 attempts in six NBA Finals games, including 25 alone in a single game.

The Hornets won 18 games in 2004-05, the season before Paul was drafted. Behind Paul's dribbling and playmaking last season, New Orleans won 56 games and earned the Western Conference's No. 2 seed, losing in the second round of the playoffs in seven games to San Antonio.

McHale, a Hall of Fame big man, points to the NBA's overhaul of its rules in 2001, when the league scrapped its illegal-defense ban and instituted changes allowing players more "freedom of movement."

The changes in time produced the intended result -- higher scoring games -- but also quashed a physical style of player the 6-10 McHale once loved to play.

"I think the league is ever evolving," said McHale, the No. 3 overall pick in the 1980 draft by Boston. "[The Celtics'] Paul Pierce got to the line 20 times [in an NBA Finals game] and he didn't post up once. Before the only way you got to the line was throw it in the post and rough-house people. Now you can't touch anybody on the perimeter."

McHale reached out and touched a questioner on the shoulder lightly with a finger.

"That's two free throws in our game now," said McHale, who famously tackled Los Angeles Lakers forward Kurt Rambis' head in the 1984 NBA Finals.

McHale's lament is the league's gain. On Thursday night, it might well be Rose's, too.

Who's No. 1?

Three months ago, Kansas State's Michael Beasley -- a freshman forward listed in college at 6-10, measured at 6-7 at the NBA's predraft combine -- looked like a sure thing to become the No. 1 overall pick.

But Rose's telling play in the NCAA tournament, his serious, humble demeanor and Beasley's seemingly carefree attitude all have contributed to the hunch that the Bulls, such lucky winners in the May draft lottery, will remake their team by choosing a leader in whose hands they can place the ball and on whose shoulders they can lay their faith for the next decade.

"I have to say my leadership," Rose said when asked what he will take to the NBA. "Off the court, I'm quiet. On the court, I feel I can talk a little more. People listen to me."

It probably doesn't hurt Rose's chance to become the top pick that he was born and raised in Chicago, even if Rose calls Beasley the better player.

"Definitely him," Rose said when asked about the two. "He's way better. He's versatile. He's a great player."

Rose's top-seeded Memphis team reached the NCAA title game. Beasley's 11th-seeded Kansas State team lost to Wisconsin in the tournament's second round.

"Why would he say that?" Beasley asked of Rose. "His team went further in the tournament. He led his team to the championship game. I wouldn't say that."

Both played only one collegiate season, the minimum requirement before they could enter the NBA draft. Beasley played at six high schools in five states before arriving at Kansas State, a travelogue that has caused NBA teams to ponder his character and maturity.

"I just turned 19 years old in January, how mature do you want me to be?" Beasley asked. "I'm still a kid. I'm not 20 yet. I'm not legal. I can vote, but that's about it. On the basketball side of things, I'm 30 years old. Off the court, I don't know how mature I want to be. I don't know if I want to be 25 or 30 or 40.

"I'm 19. I live my life. I'm going to mess up. I don't know everything. I don't know as much as you do. I'm learning as I go."

Miami, owner of the second overall pick, purportedly is considering Southern California's O.J. Mayo with its selection if the Bulls do take Rose No. 1. That could be concern about Beasley's attitude or simply draft subterfuge.

"I hear I have character issues," Beasley said. "I have yet to hear what they are. Until somebody can tell me what my character issues are, I don't feel the need to change."

Flavor of the day

Timberwolves executives say they still don't know which way the Bulls will go. Rose's college teammate, Joey Dorsey, figured it out a month ago. He told reporters, apparently with tongue too firmly in cheek, that he knew the Bulls will take Beasley.

"Joey is going to be Joey, everybody knows that," Rose said. "If anybody knows, it wouldn't be Joey."

Beasley's not so sure.

"Joey's got this car that takes him to the future sometimes," Beasley said. "He must have just got back from the future."

If Rose's name is called first and Beasley's is not, you can credit Rose's strength, a level of athleticism some observers have called "freakish" and his command of a game. You can also probably credit Nash, Paul and Williams.

"I wish I could fill their shoes, or even get in them," Rose said. "The guard play is like the No. 1 thing now and it starts with the point guard."

McHale, the throwback that he is, contends rule changes come and go. This season's trend will be next season's faded fad.

"The three-point line went in, the three-point line came out, this is in, that is out," he said. "We have so many rules changes, next year you might be able to mug on the perimeter and can't touch anyone on the interior. You have to take basketball players.

"At the end of the day, if you listened to New Orleans when their playoffs were over, they were saying, 'We need a big guy we can throw it to down in the paint.' I don't know how many people really truly feel that's going to be a style of ball that's going to win a championship, but it's fun to watch."

DRAFT INFO

When: 6 p.m. Thursday

Where: Madison Square Garden, New York

TV: ESPN

Top six picks

1. Chicago 2. Miami

3. Wolves

4. Seattle

5. Memphis

6. New York