Derrick Rose was explosive, athletic, intelligent, skilled, and clutch. More importantly, he was a player destined for greatness.
He was regarded as Chicago’s finest, joining the likes of Isiah Thomas, Dwyane Wade, Antoine Walker, Mark Aguirre, and Tim Hardaway, who came from the Windy City and carved a nice for themselves as bonafide superstars from the Windy City.
Rose was supposed to be the next big thing for the Chicago Bulls when he was selected as the first overall pick in the 2008 NBA Draft. And to prove that all the buzz around him was legitimate, he made an impact in the playoffs when he tied with former Los Angeles Lakers legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for the most points by a rookie in his playoff debut.
Over the course of his career, Rose stacked up his resume with the MVP Award (2011), three All-Star appearances (2010-2012), making the All-NBA First Team (2011), and earning a Rookie of the Year (2009).
Unfortunately, he was torpedoed by injuries at the peak of his career. Eventually, the Bulls traded Rose to the New York Knicks along with Justin Holiday and a 2017 second-round pick for Robin Lopez, Jose Calderon, and Jerian Grant.
During his time with the Bulls, Rose averaged 19.7 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 6.2 assists. His stint with the Knicks has him averaging 14.1 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 3.8 assists.
Rose’s numbers this season have seen a dip given that he has largely fallen out of the Knicks rotation, as a result of which he’s seen propping up 5.6 points, 1.5 rebounds, and 1.7 assists from just 27 games.
As far as the debate regarding his HOF status goes, many fans still wonder if Rose is indeed a Hall of Famer. We did our research and in our opinion, this case is closed.
Coming to the present, Rose will be an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season, and should he be indeed traded by the Knicks, he does have potential suitors. On that note, we take a look at the five best destinations for the former MVP.
5. Portland Trail Blazers
The Portland Trail Blazers were one of the teams that were a thorough disappointment this season, despite Damian Lillard’s phenomenal regular season performances. The silver lining, though, is their offseason that looks bright as they have enough resources to make a splash.
They have attractive assets to make larger deals and some promising names on the roster who they can deal to land reliable faces. And Rose is one of them. For a team that’s in dire need of a veteran presence who can still contribute, the 34-year-old comes in as the perfect fit to guide the likes of young faces in Shaedon Sharpe and guard Anfernee Simons.
4. Boston Celtics
The Boston Celtics have been beyond impressive this season, and adding a player of Rose’s caliber would only make them better on the offensive end. While they have the likes of Marcus Smart as their explosive and reliant point guard, the non-Smart minutes could see someone like Rose take over the floor and help the offensive end with his playmaking.
More importantly, Rose is a trade asset that Boston will have at their disposal. Even if the Celtics do have him on the side, they could eventually use his value to land the right pieces for the side.
3. Miami Heat
Derrick Rose was linked to the Miami Heat earlier this season as reports emerged that the team was on the lookout for a veteran point guard. With Kyle Lowry’s dwindling form, there was a need for another floor general, and Rose was looked at as a prime candidate.
The Heat have shown the willingness to add veterans to the mix, namely Kevin Love, who added more depth and experience to the squad. In Rose, they will get a similar reward, and given his willingness to come off the bench, he could have the sort of impact John Wall did with the LA Clippers earlier this season.
2. Phoenix Suns
The Phoenix Suns were one of the teams eyeing Rose’s services and will surely be one of the frontrunners keen to land him if the Knicks decide to ship him during the summer. At 34, he might not be able to explode out of the gate, but Rose could be the perfect experienced backup for Chris Paul, whose injuries have had the better of him in the ongoing season.
Rose is still a legitimate offensive threat, and he could be the perfect piece to complement Kevin Durant and Devin Booker. His pass-first game was a highlight during his pre-draft days and is still a major presence in his arsenal for a scoring-heavy team such as the Suns, he would make for a valuable addition.
1. Chicago Bulls
Depth was, and has been, an issue for the Chicago Bulls for a few seasons now. With Lonzo Ball set to miss a major portion of the 2023-24 season, and Patrick Beverley coming up short on the offensive end, the Bulls will surely benefit from Rose in the mix. They need a playmaking guard and who better than the man who was once the face of the franchise?
The leadership presence is another facet that Rose brings to the table, something that the Knicks have enjoyed. Earlier, Julius Randle, per the New York Daily News, said he would love to see Rose on the floor. “I would argue that he’s having just as much, if not more of an impact vocally as a leader for us. He’s constantly talking to me, giving me advice. His impact is huge.”
And now, Chicago could use some of that. More importantly, it will be the perfect way for the once-mercurial guard to sign off.
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