Credit: Howard Smith-USA TODAY Sports
Look at Derrick Rose trying to get all “Field of Dreams” on everybody. Derrick Rose is being true to his word about recruiting free agent players not named Kirk Hinrich. He’s not going to do it. Probably by the time you are reading this column, the Chicago Bulls are more than likely taking Carmelo Anthony on their three-hour tour around the United Center. We definitely know who is not playing Gilligan on this trip and that is the franchise player of the Bulls, Derrick Rose.
On Sunday, Derrick Rose, who was at the Drew Gooden Foundation Basketball Camp, reiterated to Yahoo! Sports that he will not be recruiting Carmelo Anthony, or any other free agent to come to Chicago. His reason is simple.
“Not my job.”
I guess NBA contracts don’t have other duties as assigned like the rest of us. If this keeps up, Kirk Hinrich is going to be one of the questions on Jeopardy. Couldn’t you see it though?
Alex Trebek
Well Ronald, you have a chance to win in Final Jeopardy! You have to get this one question right. The answer…Kirk Hinrich.
Who is…The only player that Derrick Rose will ever recruit? Correct!
Seems ridiculous doesn’t it? Kirk Hinrich being a Jeopardy question.
Just about as ridiculous as this Derrick Rose not wanting to recruit situation. Nobody is telling the man to go out and get his knees dirty and beg the man to come to Chicago. But it’s the LEAST you can do after playing a whopping 10 games in the last two years and 50 in the last three. Is there something that you could say to Carmelo Anthony that shows that you would welcome Anthony into the fold besides an empty sound bite? How about “I need you to come to Chicago to get this championship.” Does that mean that he is better than you in your mind? No. But I think we all know that this is a team sport and that a lot of Bulls fans are tired of looking at your extensive suit collection. You dig?
So you say “If they want to come, they can come.” In theory, that is a confident attitude that I could admire. If it works. As history has taught us, it seems that NO ONE wants to come to Chicago.
Has anyone noticed that big name free agents tend to cross out the Chicago Bulls on their bucket list of destinations to play? The Bulls for years have been the bridesmaid of the NBA when it comes to bringing stars to the Windy City. Let’s take a look at some players that have said “thanks, but no thanks” to the Bulls.
LeBron James (2010)
Remember back when the Bulls were the front-runners in the “Summer of LeBron” sweepstakes? Chicago had given away Kirk Hinrich on draft night to clear up cap space to add a couple of superstars alongside Derrick Rose (with two good knees) and Joakim Noah. Well, we all know what happened. The Godfather of the Miami Mafia, Pat Riley gave LeBron an offer he couldn’t refuse. One badly produced “The Decision” show, one parade in poor taste and four NBA Finals later, the Bulls were left in the cold.
Dwyane Wade (2010)
D-Wade is a hometown kid. Everyone wants to play in their hometown right? Uh, no. You see Pat Riley had something cooking ever since the Heat had that horrible 15-67 season. Kinda hard to remember that the Heat really stunk back then. That’s why Charles Barkley calls the fans fake. But I bet you Pat Riley sat D-Wade down and told him the plans for the franchise going forward. Sort of like what Phil Jackson is telling a certain player in New York that you fans want. Riley tore the team down and went after the big fish aka LeBron James, the guy we just finished talking about. Couple that with Chris Bosh, who would have played in Siberia if the other two would have. The Chicago Bulls struck out. Three times! The Bulls talked to Chris Bosh too.
Guess who the Bulls signed that summer? Yep! That would be Carlos Boozer.The symbol of the most polarizing group in Pippen Ain’t Easy, The Legion of Booz. The Bulls signed Boozer to a five-year deal that is DIRECTLY connected to any move that the Bulls make this offseason.
Kobe Bryant (2007)
Remember when Kobe Bryant didn’t like the Lakers? Well that was back in 2007, when he realized that things were a lot easier when Phil Jackson’s triangle offense with Shaquille O’Neal in the middle equaled dynasties. Guess where he wanted to go? Chicago! The Bulls were asked to give up Luol Deng, Tyrus Thomas, Ben Gordon and Joakim Noah as the core parts for Bryant. The negotiations of any of these parts between the teams were positive. Only one thing.
Kobe Bryant wanted Luol Deng in Chicago.
Kobe was not going to be traded to a team who was gutted to bring him in the first place. After Kobe waved his no trade clause in his contract, the potential deal lost steam. Kobe changed his mind and won two more titles.
Kevin Garnett (2006 and 2007)
Kevin Love wasn’t the only player the Bulls wanted out of Minnesota. As a matter of fact it was under similar circumstances. Kevin Garnett was tired of losing every year in the playoffs. After Sam Cassell left and Latrell Sprewell tried to find a bigger contract to feed his family, Garnett was left to fend on his own.
In 2006, the Timberwolves turned down a package centered on Tyson Chandler, Luol Deng and the No. 2 pick in the draft that year. The Bulls tried again the next year before eventually Minnesota got fleeced by the Boston Celtics and traded Garnett away. Kevin Garnett ended up winning his only championship.
Tracy McGrady (2000)
Back in the summer of 2000, the Bulls were going into the post Jordan era with Tracy McGrady being the face of the franchise. I mean the Bulls pushed all their chips in to woo this guy to Chicago. He was greeted by cheerleaders, Benny the Bull and the entire front office. In the media he said he was open to the possibility of coming to Chicago. The only thing that was open was the exit down to Orlando where he signed.
So this is a statement to Derrick Rose from a lot of Bulls fans. Kirk Hinrich was the only player you ever recruited to play for the Bulls. If you want a chance to bring a championship to Chicago. You might want to make Carmelo Anthony your second. Just sayin!