Draft NY '08

s I sat down and turned on the NBA Draft, I had a good feeling in my stomach. As a lifetime Tigers fan and most-time Grizzlies fan, I had my hopes up high for what would happen that night.

I knew Rose would be taken first overall - any team would be crazy to pass him up. I knew Chris Douglas-Roberts would go in the top 20. A consensus All-American who led the national champion runners-up in scoring? No-brainer. And then Joey Dorsey, who all Memphians will remember for his infectious smile and almost-savage attempts to rip the rims off the goals at FedEx Forum with his monsterous dunks, would be picked. As possibly the only person to ever willingly say they wanted to play for the Grizzlies, I knew Joey would end up staying in Memphis. I usually don't like to admit my mistakes, but most of my predictions were wrong.

The main story leading up to this year's draft was the decision the Chicago Bulls had to make with the No. 1 overall pick - Rose or fellow freshman phenom Michael Beasley? Do you take the 6-3 point guard with lightning-fast speed, proven leadership and a hometown connection, or do you take the 6-8 combo forward who can score from anywhere on the floor and led the nation in rebounding at 12.4 boards per game?

When ESPN announced the Bulls decided to select Rose first overall, I was ecstatic for him but not necessarily surprised. Rose had been urging the Bulls to take him for weeks leading up to the draft, and I was happy to see him return to Chicago as the hometown hero.

While Rose can't wear the #23 jersey he sported at Memphis (it was retired for famous Bulls player), he didn't mind. He'll now wear #1, symbolizing the spot Chicago picked him. The number doesn't matter to Rose - it's the team on the front that he cares about.

For Bulls general manager John Paxson, it wasn't just Rose's desire to wear the uniform that made him so appealing. Rose had enough qualities to warrant the first pick over Beasley, proven during the Tigers' run through last season.

Before the NCAA tournament began, many experts thought Rose would be taken second behind Beasley. Then Rose blossomed, averaging 20.8 points, 6.5 rebounds and 6.0 assists per game - good enough to earn him a spot on the NCAA Tournament All-Final Four Team.

The Bulls made the right choice. While, yes, Beasley brings size down low and can score from anywhere, Rose brings a floor presence that most of us could only dream of having. He can score if he needs to, he can set his teammates up in a position to score, and he made more incredible plays in a single season than some players make in a career.

A player like Rose only comes around a few times in a lifetime, so you take him if you get the chance.

Once Rose had shaken hands with NBA commissioner David Stern, I knew I had some time to wait before the next Tiger would be taken. I didn't know I'd be waiting so long.

As the first round wore on, I heard familiar names called - D.J. Augustin from Texas went ninth to Charlotte, Brandon Rush from Kansas at 13 to Portland and Roy Hibbert from Georgetown was chosen at 17 by Toronto.

Then there were some not-so-familiar names called - Alexis Ajinca, a 7-1 power forward who averaged just 5 points per game in France, was selected at 20 by Charlotte. Courtney Lee, a 6-5 shooting guard from Western Kentucky, was picked by Orlando at 22.

Since most mock-drafts had CDR going anywhere in the second half of the first round, I knew I had to stay tuned because he could be taken at any moment. As the draft continued into the second round, I started to worry. I heard reports that Douglas-Roberts didn't fare well in individual workouts leading up to the draft, but I didn't know how much they could realistically affect a player's draft stock.

When Dorsey was selected at 33rd overall before CDR, I was stunned. While Joey had been the anchor of the Tigers' defense for the past four years, I never thought he would be taken in front of the team's most dynamic scorer.

I have to admit I was disappointed that Joey wouldn't be staying in the city he said he loves so much, but he didn't seem to mind. When Portland drafted him at 33, the first thought in my head was that he would have to go face Greg Oden once again - this time as teammates. Dorsey didn't have much time to get used to his Trailblazer cap before he had to put on a different one. Dorsey was later traded to the Houston Rockets alongside Donte Green, his high school teammate.

When Dorsey addressed the Houston media in the following days, he seemed excited just to be there. Unable to suppress his smile, Joey told members of the media that he hoped Texans would forgive him for his last trip to Houston when the Tigers put a "beat down" on the Texas Longhorns.

Finally relief came when the New Jersey Nets selected CDR at 40th overall. ESPN.com's Chad Ford called the pick a steal for the Nets - I call it highway robbery. Douglas-Roberts, who averaged a team-high 18.1 points per game last season, can score from virtually anywhere on the floor. Shooting 54 percent from the floor and 41 percent from three-point land while scoring so many points, you would think a player like that would be a first round lock.

Even CDR thought he should have been picked higher, evident at the Nets rookie press conference. While he said he loved the team that picked him, Douglas-Roberts made it a clear point that he was unhappy where he was picked in the draft.

He didn't seem too surprised though, since he'd been underestimated for his "entire life." Playing with a chip on his shoulder should be good motivation to prove his doubters wrong. After getting the chance to watch him excel the past three seasons, there's no doubt in my mind that he will be great.

There was another player picked with the No. 40 selection who turned out to be great. In 1974, George Gervin was drafted by the Phoenix Suns in the third round. Nine NBA All-Star games later, he now holds a spot in the Basketball Hall of Fame. He was pretty good at the finger-roll, too.

Now that all of the former Tigers had been selected, my night was essentially complete. It had its ups, it had its downs, but all-in-all I'd say the 2008 NBA Draft was good to me. The only thing left to do is go out and buy a Derrick Rose jersey.