Derrick Rose a Risky Bet for Building a Team

Derrick Rose and John Wall

1. Who would you rather build your team around right now, Derrick Rose or John Wall?

Friedell: Even the most ardent Rose supporter would probably have to admit that Wall is the better option right now. That's because Wall is an All-Star who has recently proven that he can stay on the floor. Rose has only played 50 games in the past three seasons, and nobody is quite sure what kind of player he'll be when he does return. Wall is still getting better, and nobody knows if Rose will ever reach the MVP level he was at before his first knee injury. 

Who would you rather build your team around right now?
Derrick Rose
John Wall 

Jon Greenberg, ESPNChicago.com columnist: It's easy to say Wall because he's on the floor right now. Rose's injury spell has drastically altered his reputation. As Thibs would say, it's a make-or-miss league. When you miss this much time, people forget. So I'd still stick with Derrick. Maybe I'm stubborn like Rose and Thibodeau, but I still think he has another six or seven years of top-flight basketball left. Maybe more. In his brief return to action, Rose showed he still had that nasty first step and could still explode toward the rim. The timing hadn't come back all the way, but you were getting a sense it was close. Rose's most recent knee injury isn't anywhere near as serious as the ACL tear. He'll be back to normal much quicker. Wall is a very, very good point guard, but I just don't think he has Rose's ceiling. Then again, he's out there playing, so maybe that's good enough.

Scoop Jackson, ESPN.com columnist: Wall is the easy choice to say right now since we haven't seen Derrick play at peak level in 2 ½ years. I don't know if it's fair or possible to answer that question "accurately" without being a prisoner of the moment. But for the sake of conversation, I'll say Rose. Whereas Wall is a great, soon-to-be elite player in the league, Derrick (when healthy) is special. Like, LeBron/KD special.

Reference: 3 Points: Build around Wall or Rose?

I posted this article on Google+, and noted:

I agree: John Wall > Derrick Rose, Noah needs help, Thibs must use his options. 

A friend questioned my note:

John Wall greater than Derrick Rose?!?!? Are you saying as a total player, or just in the 3 point shooting department??

+Zac Zamarripa Derrick Rose is a major question mark. We'd all like to see him return to MVP form, but in the three years since, he's played just 50 games. Besides the major knee injuries, he's had assorted injuries that have been serious enough for him to miss a lot of games. His game is so explosive and athletic, that he puts so much twisting and pressure and impact on his body. His body certainly looks like it's wearing down, even at a young age. But can he recover his MVP form? No one knows, for sure, not even Derrick himself. He could have a Peyton Manning-like return from a serious injury, and have amazing career years. But he could end up being like Grant Hill, too, who was never the same after his injuries. Again, we don't know. In a way the comparison to John Wall, or any other top or up-and-coming point guard, is unfair. But the reality is the way it is: There are three years of evidence that suggest he just isn't a good bet to build your team around. Two of the three ESPN writers in this article pick Derrick, but they all qualify their choice. Which I think speaks to the quandary that Derrick really is. He's absolutely special, no doubt, but that's talking purely from the past. So, on balance, right now, John Wall is the better bet. 

Thank you for reading, and let me know what you think!

Ron Villejo, PhD