Derrick Rose could be returning home this offseason if the Chicago Bulls think of him as a backup point guard. The 2011 NBA MVP has bounced around the league, joining different teams and showing flashes of the player he was during his best days with the Bulls.
After getting traded to the New York Knicks from the Detroit Pistons, Rose is ready for a new challenge, and he could go back home to discover what’s next for his career. The veteran player has a big story with Chicago and could work well as a mentor for young players and a terrific 6th man.
He was on a tear during the 2021 NBA playoffs, starting as a backup and taking over the Knicks, leading the team against the Atlanta Hawks in the first round of the postseason.
Now, according to Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report, D-Rose is reportedly interested in a return to Chicago, where his career started.
For the Bulls, there’s believed to be mutual interest with Lonzo Ball on a four-year deal worth over $80 million. If the Pelicans do not renounce Ball, that agreement would have to come via an offer sheet, which New Orleans would have the option to match.
Regardless of that outcome, there are strong indications from league sources that mutual interest exists between Derrick Rose and his storied hometown franchise, where he claimed league MVP honors in 2010-11. It’s unclear how Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau can stand in the way of the Bulls’ potential advances, and Chicago will need to shed contracts to bring on two ball-handlers at such expected salaries.
Rose left a big mark on Chicago during his first stint there. Although injuries were merciless with him, the point guard brought a lot of joy to the team.
Now, as an older and wiser player, Derrick can return to the Windy City, making it clear he’s not done yet and can help his team reach the postseason again, just like the old times.
