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Derrick Rose Should Sit Out of Team USA Minicamp

By Jeremy Karll

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Team USA is hosting their minicamp this month and two Bulls players are invited, Jimmy Butler and Derrick Rose.

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However, Rose isn’t sure if he wants to participate in it this year, according to Nick Friedell of ESPNChicago.com.

This is a great opportunity for Rose to showcase his talent and prove that he is still the player he use to be, but as a Bulls fan, I hope he chooses to sit out.

If Rose chooses to sit out, then his chances of making the 12-man roster that will participate at the Summer Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro next summer will be significantly hurt. The USA Basketball managing director, Jerry Colangelo, said that players who wish to make the team must participate in the training camp. Rose was set to play in the 2012 Summer Games before tearing his left ACL in the 2011 NBA Playoffs.

Since injuring his left knee in 2011, Rose has dealt with all sorts of injuries and has many people wondering if he will become the biggest ‘what if’ story since Tracy McGrady. Rose later tore his right meniscus in 2013, after missing the whole 2012 season and re-tore it again last season.

Rose has reached the top as an individual, winning the NBA’s Rookie of the Year Award in 2008, while becoming the youngest MVP recipient in NBA history back in 2011. The Bulls however, have only been able to make the Eastern Conference Finals once since drafting him first overall back before the 2007-08 season. Butler, along with Pau Gasol, have already made statements this offseason about the Bulls title chances and how they need to focus on winning now.

Rose is not the same player he use to be and he may never get back to that level, but the Bulls don’t need the 2010 Rose anymore. The Bulls are a different team than five years ago. They have more scoring options that relieves pressure off of Rose on the offensive side of the ball and are a more veteran group that knows what it takes to win.

The nickname ‘Baby Bulls’ is for sure gone, as they are a favorite to compete for the title every year now. In 51 games last year Rose averaged 17.7 PPG on 40.5 percent shooting from the field and 28 percent shooting from behind the arc. If Rose is able to average close to 20 PPG, then the Bulls will be in good shape.

The thing that hurts them the most though is his shooting percentages. In his career, Rose shoots just over 45% from the field and over 30% from the three point line, and that’s what we need from him.

Rose won’t be able to help the Bulls if he is on the bench in a suit. If Rose sits out until the Bulls training camp in late September then it will give his legs another couple months of rest. Yes, Rose probably won’t represent our country next year in the Summer Games, but if his main focus is bringing a championship back to Chicago, he shouldn’t worry about that and focus on keeping his legs fresh. Tom Thibodeau was a big reason why Rose and other Bulls’ players faced so many injuries, so hopefully Fred Hoiberg is better at managing minutes and making sure Rose stays healthy all year.

Besides the fact it will keep Rose’s legs fresher, I don’t think he would make the team. Rose has a lot of wear and tear now and isn’t the same explosive young guard with a smooth jump shot that he use to be. There are a lot of younger and better point guards to choose from.

Four years ago, Rose was considered one of the top three point guards in the NBA, but now I question whether he is even in the top 10. With guys like Chris Paul, Stephen Curry and Damian Lillard, I think Rose would get lost in the mix very easily.

If Rose wants to try and make Team USA, then I would root for him and hope he could somehow prove to be the Derrick Rose we all knew four years ago.

But, when it comes down to it, Rose isn’t the same player he use to be and people should probably even question why he got invited. The best thing for Rose and the Bulls to do is to have Derrick Rose sit out and rest his legs.

Next: Rumors: The Bulls should stay as far away from JaVale McGee as possible

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