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Chicago Bulls: Top 10 NBA Draft picks in franchise history

By James D. Tillman III

May 17, 2016; New York, NY, USA; Chicago Bulls guard Jimmy Butler represents his team during the NBA draft lottery at New York Hilton Midtown. The Philadelphia 76ers received the first overall pick in the 2016 draft. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
May 17, 2016; New York, NY, USA; Chicago Bulls guard Jimmy Butler represents his team during the NBA draft lottery at New York Hilton Midtown. The Philadelphia 76ers received the first overall pick in the 2016 draft. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 2, 2013; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Chicago Bulls guard Derrick Rose (1) is defended by Philadelphia 76ers forward Brandon Davies (20) during the second quarter at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Howard Smith-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 2, 2013; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Chicago Bulls guard Derrick Rose (1) is defended by Philadelphia 76ers forward Brandon Davies (20) during the second quarter at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Howard Smith-USA TODAY Sports /

2. Derrick Rose (PG) — No. 1 pick in 2008 NBA Draft

Career stats (with the Bulls):  406 GP, 19.7 PPG, 6.2 APG, 3.7 RPG, 0.8 SPG, 0.4 BPG, 2.9 TOV, 44.8 FG%, 30.2 3P%, 81.3 FT%

The Bulls had advanced to the playoffs in three of the last four years, but were coming off a 2007-08 campaign in which they won 33 games. Fortunately, the basketball gods were smiling on the Bulls as they managed to secure the top overall pick despite having less than a two percent chance of doing so.

And with that pick, the Bulls selected Derrick Rose from the University of Memphis. From day one, it was apparent the Bulls had made the right choice.

During his rookie season, Rose posted averages of 16.9 points, 6.3 assists and 3.9 boards per contest and was named the 2009 Rookie of the Year. Two seasons later, Rose became the youngest player in NBA history to win the Most Valuable Player award following a season that saw him average career highs in both points (25.0 per game) and assists (7.7 per game).

Unfortunately, as was the case with former teammate, Joakim Noah, injuries robbed Rose of his ability just as he was reaching the peak of his career. During the 2011-12 season, Rose missed 27 games due to an assortment of injuries. Then, he tore his left ACL in the opening game of the 2012 NBA Playoffs and missed the entire 2012-13 campaign.

The unfortunate injury trend for Rose continued as he missed 72 games in 2013-14 and an additional 31 games in 2014-15. Though he did manage to play in 66 games in 2015-16, it was obvious the Bulls had gone as far as they could with that core of players, and they shipped the former MVP to the Knicks in a five-player trade.

None of us will ever know what kind of player Rose would have become. What is a certainty is he was one of the most explosive players in the league when he was healthy — a fact that often gets lost when looking back on the early years of his career.

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