Michael Carter-Williams Picked Out the No. 1, Until He Didn’t

Michael Carter-Williams made it known on Instagram that he was officially coming to Chicago by posting a photoshopped picture of him in a No. 1 Bulls jersey. Then, all hell broke loose on social media, which led to MCW wearing No. 7 in the end.

Next: What are Bulls getting in Michael Carter-Williams?

Let’s get this out of the way right now: Michael Carter-Williams is not Derrick Rose.

Although Carter-Williams wore the No. 1 in both seasons he attended Syracuse University and during his time with the Philadelphia 76ers, he’s not a Chicago native that made the local team’s popularity to back to old heights again.

That’s why there was such a pushback when Carter-Williams posted this on Instagram to signify that the trade between the Bulls and Milwaukee Bucks was official.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BLrUwe6AOgK/

It’s normal for players to shout out their new teams, but usually, they’re not wearing a number that means a lot to a large number of that team’s fans.

It’s been almost four months since the Bulls traded Rose to the New York Knicks, and for many, it still doesn’t feel real.

Here’s the reality of the situation: Is it a bit tone-deaf that the Bulls were just going to give away the No. 1 jersey to MCW after trading Rose in June? Yeah, probably.

But, until a number hangs in the rafters of an arena or stadium, it’s up for grabs. The No. 1 was worn before Rose (hello, Randy Brown and Jamal Crawford), and there’s certainly no plans to retire it anytime soon, nor has Rose done enough in his career to warrant that.

Did he has some spectacular moments as a Bull? Yeah, of course he did.

Toni Kukoc and Ben Gordon also had some fun Bulls moments, and where’s their jersey retirement ceremony like Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen received when they joined Bob Love and Jerry Sloan‘s numbers in the United Center?

Carter-Williams initially picked the No. 1 because he wore it in college and with the Sixers, while also realizing that people might be upset because it was Rose’s old number.

Not only did he show more awareness than the Bulls organization themselves did in this situation by mentioning Rose and then switching the number later in the day on Monday, he really showed that the wounds are still fresh for a lot of Bulls fans and this new transition period is going to take some time.

What’s going to happen if someone comes into the organization and wants the No. 13 that Joakim Noah once wore? Or if the Bulls trade Taj Gibson or don’t re-sign him next summer? Will the uproar be the same if a player wants the No. 22?

There’s a certain connect that Bulls fans have to the 2010-11 Chicago Bulls, which is completely understandable. Outside of the title teams in the 1990’s era, those 2010-11 Bulls led by Rose might have been the most fun Bulls fans have had since the sixth title run in 1998. 62 wins, the top seed in the Eastern Conference and the league’s youngest MVP ever? That’s one hell of a season.

But, it’s not 2011 anymore. It’s 2016. Derrick Rose is gone. Joakim Noah is gone. Tom Thibodeau is gone. This transition started with Fred Hoiberg coming in last season and things are going to continue to change. That’s the reality of it all.

The hilarious thing — well, two hilarious things — about all of this is: 1) A chunk of Bulls fans are upset over a number, and seemingly pressured MCW to change to No. 7 and 2) Michael Carter-Williams said the Bulls are “definitely” a playoff team.

“Definitely”.

Don’t tell the general managers of the NBA that, being that they picked the Bulls to finish 9th overall in the Eastern Conference this season in the league’s annual GM survey.