The story of Derrick Rose is known. A former league MVP marred by a slew of injuries to his lower extremities, which effectively ended his tenure as one of the top point guards in the NBA.
Rose was thought to be the next big thing. The one we anticipated being at the floor general forefront in this era of elite point guards. On Tuesday night the Charlotte Hornets waxed the Bulls 130-105, and Rose scored only four points in 24 minutes of play, thus marking the first time in his injury-riddled career that he’s scored under ten points in three straight games.
Rose, who is currently playing with impaired vision in one eye due to an injury sustain during training camp, has struggled to gain any traction this season from an offensive standpoint, averaging a feeble 10.2 points per game on 33% shooting.
As of right now Rose can’t see clearly, but the Bulls do and the writing is on the wall in Chicago.
The Bulls want to shed themselves of Derrick Rose.
According to Brian Windhorst of ESPN:
The Derrick Rose breakup with the Bulls has begun. I don’t know how long it’s going to last. I don’t know if it’s going to be complete. But you can sort of see it. The team and the franchise have moved on to a little bit of a certain extent.
There had been rumblings of a potential Rose and Chicago split, but obviously nothing has come to fruition, with Rose still donning a Bulls uniform as of this post.
In the summer of 2014, the Bulls tried to lure prized free-agent Carmelo Anthony away from the New York Knicks, but there were reports that Rose’s recruiting effort was minimal, much to the disgust of the Bulls’ brass.
Then on Media Day, Rose made strange comments in regards to his impending free agency in the summer of 2017, hinting that he’s excited to test the free agent waters in hopes of increasing his monetary status with the cap projected to rise substantially next summer.
That statement was succeeded by reports of strife between Rose and backcourt mate Jimmy Butler, but both of them downplayed the idea of any hostility being present in their relationship numerous times.
Could all this, coupled with Rose’s inability to string together a full healthy season in several years and the emergence of Butler, push the Bulls to explore trade options for their once prized point guard?
Windhorst stated that he was not sure if the breakup would be complete, so it’s feasible that Chicago sticks it out with Rose in hopes that he regains a smidgen of the mojo that had many hailing him as a top-three point guard in the Association.
The Bulls’ core of Butler, Pau Gasol, Joakim Noah, Taj Gibson and Nikola Mirotic could help keep them afloat in a conference especially as ragged as the East, and if they were able to acquire another serviceable guard and or wing in a Rose swap, they’d be right back on their feet looking to march on to championship grounds.
Rose has two years and $41 million left on his deal, so trying to dump him via trade may get dicey. Don’t be surprised if Chicago reluctantly rides the Rose wave until his contract expires in 2017, then finally closes the chapter on the Derrick Rose Bulls era for once and for all.
