Aug 15, 2014; Chicago, IL, USA; USA guard Derrick Rose talks with the media during practice at Quest MultiSport Complex. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-USA TODAY Sports
For starters, Derrick Rose didn’t need the camp to help prepare him for the upcoming season. According to CSN Chicago reporter Vincent Goodwill, Rose has impressed training partner Russell Westbrook and trainer Rob McClanaghan with the progress that he has made this summer.
Russell Westbrook said Derrick Rose looks like "the old Derrick Rose". Trainer Rob McClanaghan said Rose and RW are "neck and neck again"
— Vincent Goodwill (@VinceGoodwill) August 11, 2015
McClanaghan also said that Rose “looks like the old Derrick” and that his mental approach to the game is back at his MVP level.
"“He looks like the old Derrick to me. Now having that full year (back playing), a good playoff run, everything, the mental stuff is back, too. I think everything has come together this summer more than last summer. He’s had momentum going into the summer unlike last year. Mentally, physically, he looks very good. There’s no reason he’s not going to have a good season.” (Bulls.com, Sam Smith)"
Rose’s attendance at Team USA’s camp would have done little except provide a temporary lull in his training. The nature and intensity of the workouts at this camp did little to help any of these players improve. Rather, the event can most accurately be described as a USA Basketball social gathering.
In a press release, managing director of USA Basketball Jerry Colangelo described the impending mini-camp as more of a chance for the players to build camaraderie than receive quality basketball training.
"With this being a summer where we do not have an official competition that we need to prepare for, this year’s minicamp is an opportunity to continue and expand the brotherhood and camaraderie that has been built. (USA Basketball.com)"
In fact, the events of this minicamp were so laid back, that many of the best American players decided skip out on the five-on-five scrimmage that ended the event. Lebron James, Kevin Durant, Chris Paul and Carmelo Anthony among others, decided that they would be better served as spectators than actual players in this event.
Although it is unclear what Rose did while the event was going on, it seems reasonable to assume that whatever he did training-wise, was just as or more beneficial than his participation in this event would have been. If the reports from Westbrook and McClanaghan are true, Rose has done his job this summer by continuing to improve upon his game. As long as he improved this summer, the method that he used to make these improvements doesn’t matter.
Next: Colangelo went back on his word