Derrick Rose transformed the Chicago Bulls, helping turn them into a playoff team this year — and a strong suitor for LeBron James this summer.
Considering John Wall is being favorably compared to Rose, will his impact be the same? The supporting cast is different. The Wizards don’t have a strong young core, but then again, maybe Andray Blatche becomes a better player than anyone else on the Bulls’ roster not named Rose.
But it started with Rose. And in Washington it’ll start with Wall, picked first overall.
“He compares favorably [to Rose],” ESPN draft analyst Jay Bilas said. “He’s faster in the open floor. He can get end to end faster than anyone in this draft and as fast as any prospect I can remember. A guy like Wall plays ahead of the defense so often that he’s so dynamic. He has a very quick first step.
“Rose is a more powerful player and probably a better finisher at the rim. Wall can be a better defender. I don’t think he reached his defensive potential because he can make basket-saving plays.”
A guard who can defend? That’s going to take some time for us to get used to (and, in truth, it will take Wall some time to be good at that end). But if/when Kirk Hinrich joins the Wizards via a trade, he’ll provide the blueprint for how to defend as a guard.
But the key for superstars is this: Do they make others better? Rose most certainly did in college, and he’s doing it again in the NBA. He creates shots for himself and others because of his penetration skills and his developing midrange game.
Wall is not as good a shooter, but his freakish athleticism will serve him well. His ability to pass will create opportunities for everyone.
“The only question mark about Wall is that he turns the ball over at a high rate,” Bilas said. “But I can live with that because you can dial that down. He’s not a great shooter, but he makes open shots and has a good stroke. He can improve.”
