Orlando Pre-Draft Camp - Michael Beasley, Derrick Rose, Eric Gordon, & More

Here is a rundown of the Michael Beasley & Derrick Rose interviews that took place at the Orlando Pre-Draft Camp yesterday and some other draft news, via ESPN writer Chad Ford's Orlando Notebook. With my comments thrown in as usual.

Michael Beasley: Beasley was loud, boisterous and playful. "I hear a lot about I have 'character issues,' but I've yet to hear what those 'character issues' are," he said. "Until somebody can tell me what my 'character issues' are, I don't feel the need to change. "I just turned 19 in January. How mature do you want me to be? I'm still a kid. 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'm going to live my life. I'm going to mess up." As far as entertainment goes, Beasley stole the show. He answered a question about his height or lack thereof by saying, "I didn't know there was a height requirement for the NBA. No matter if I'm 5 feet or 8-1, I'm the same player. I'm going to work as hard as I can." And when asked about whether he'd like to play in Miami he said, "I've heard some great things about Miami … there's a little beach there I hear." Of more concern may be the perception that Beasley has more than just basketball on his mind. While Rose kept all of his comments on the game and the teams he might play for, Beasley answered a question about Miami not by talking about Pat Riley, Dwyane Wade or Shawn Marion … but by referencing the beach. That one factor could kill Beasley's chances of landing in Chicago -- or Miami for that matter. Pat Riley continues to insist that the draft is not a two-man race. With O.J. Mayo and Dwyane Wade becoming fast friends working out together in Chicago … Beasley better be on his best behavior. (ESPN)

Comments: I'm really loving Beasley's personality and the way he thinks. Many people might not like to hear things like "I'm 19 and I'm gonna mess up" but he's telling the truth and I have to commend him for realizing it. As long as he steers clear of the law, then he should be alright and so far Beasley hasn't had any brush-ins with the law, so I think he should be alright. He seems like a fun loving kid, who just likes to have a good time. Now on the court, he is a beast and nobody can deny that and as long as he can keep himself on the court by not getting into trouble, then that is all that matters.

Derrick Rose: Rose was quiet, humble and focused. "He's way better than me," Rose said when asked about Beasley. "He's versatile. He's a great player." When asked whether that reply was humility or a lack of confidence, Rose said meekly, "It's just me." While Beasley was playful, Rose treated the press conference like a job interview. When asked about his credentials he pointed to the one thing that will be hard to ignore: he's a winner. "My whole thing is about winning," he said. "I don't care about points." When asked how many games he's lost in the past three seasons his response said it all, "I think it was four or five games." Five losses in three years? Now you know why Rose is pegged as a franchise-type leader. Bulls GM John Paxson is a no-nonsense guy. He likes players who are focused and professional. Rose fits the bill. Still, Paxson doesn't always go in that direction. Last year he took Joakim Noah, a guy who, in personality, seems to be a kindred spirit with Beasley. (ESPN)

Comments: It's still not very clear what the Bulls are going to do with the top pick. Right now I would say it seems like they are leaning towards Rose but I still think they should go with Beasley. I'm sure alot of this depends on who the next coach is as well. If it is indeed Doug Collins, I have to think the pick would be Beasley because I'm thinking that Collins would rather have a veteran like Hinrich running his team than a rookie like Rose. Beasley can come right in and he's going to be productive right away. Plus, as I have stated before, I think a Beasley/Hinrich combination trumps a Rose/and whatever they could get in a trade for Hinrich combination.

Eric Gordon: I spent some time with Indiana's Eric Gordon on Thursday night at the ESPN Zone in Orlando. Gordon is in town to participate in the combine portion of the pre-draft camp on Friday. Prospects are testing for strength, speed, agility, size and for medical red flags. The NBA has invited 15 players for this part of the camp and Gordon is one of them. Gordon has been working out in Indiana, rehabbing a wrist that was broken, working on his ball handing and regaining that sweet shooting stroke that abandoned him in the second half of the season. Gordon said his wrist is totally healed and he's back to being a dead-eye behind the arc. The thing that stuck out to me about Gordon was his size. He is so wide for a guard. He looks like a 6-foot-4 power forward. Given his athleticism and quickness, that size will serve him well in the pros. He's significantly bigger than Mayo or Jerryd Bayless. Sources say that Gordon will likely fall to either Seattle at No. 4, the Knicks at No. 6 or the Clippers at No. 7. On potential, he could be the third- or fourth-best player in this draft. If his jumper is falling in workouts, his stock will be quickly repaired. (ESPN)

Comments: I think Gordon could be a sleeper in this draft and I would not be surprised if he moves up as high as the 3rd pick. If his shooting struggles at Indiana at the end of the season were due to his wrist and if that wrist is now healthy, then he could be a deadly shooter again. I think many people were down on Gordon because of those struggles but I'm pretty sure it was because of his wrist and if he shoots the ball well in workouts and shows that he is healthy, then I definitely agree that his stock is going to rise in this draft.

Workouts: NBA agents have long controlled the draft process and this year is no different. More and more agents are targeting certain teams in the draft for their clients and are ignoring draft position. That means a few players make actually refuse to work out for teams drafting higher in the draft, content to slip a few spots to a team they'd prefer to play for. The team struggling the most to get players into workouts is the Memphis Grizzlies. Two league sources said that the team is having a hard time getting the top prospects in the draft to agree to individual workouts. The Grizzlies look like a young team on the rise … so what's the issue? "Some of it is geography," according to one source. "A lot of players would prefer to go to New York or LA at six or seven than to a city like Memphis, Minneapolis or Oklahoma City. That's part of it. And part of it is just prestige of certain teams. Everyone wants to play for the Knicks. Very few kids grow up dreaming of playing for the Grizzlies." While refusing to work out for a team can dissuade a team from drafting a prospect, sometimes it backfires. Last year Yi Jianlian refused to work out (or divulge his physical) for the Milwaukee Bucks, but the team selected him anyway. After a long, protracted negotiation, Yi eventually signed with the Bucks. If no one works out for the Grizzlies, they still have to sign with someone.

Speaking of workouts, both Beasley and Rose said they haven't scheduled workouts yet.

Kevin Love said he had scheduled workouts with the Timberwolves, Sonics, Knicks and Nets.

Brook Lopez said he has scheduled workouts with the Wolves and Sonics. (ESPN)

Comments: Interesting that players are avoiding the Grizzlies. That could significantly affect the draft because the Grizzlies might choose someone they worked out rather than the best talent available. I'm sure once guys realize they won't be getting drafted before the 5th pick that they might change their minds about working out for the Grizzlies though or could the Grizzlies reach and take someone who isn't slated to get drafted until the 10th pick or so? This is something to keep an eye on for sure.