Chicago Bulls and Derrick Rose reunion: Does it make sense?

The Chicago Bulls lack depth at the point guard position. Would a Derrick Rose signing be beneficial for the future of the franchise?

The Chicago Bulls have a talented young core of players and some decent pieces surrounding that core. Defense and health concerns are definitely valid when considering future success but the point still remains. Regardless of the potential, the point guard position isn’t very loaded in Chicago.

While Cameron Payne had a few solid games near the end of the season, he doesn’t seem to be a solid long-term option for the Bulls and he sure doesn’t help the defensive issues. Derrick Rose saw another injury-filled and fairly lackluster regular season during 2018 but performed well in the playoffs when given consistent minutes.

With only one year remaining on his contract, does Rose returning to Chicago make any sense?

Derrick Rose is still a talented player when healthy

Rose will likely never be a consistent starter on any team for the remainder of his career simply due to his injury-prone nature and hindered athleticism. Regardless, he can still prove to be a solid backup guard when healthy and when given the opportunity. NBA players who’ve played with and against Rose know this to be true as well.

Jamal Crawford recently sat down with Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson on the Scoop B Radio podcast and talked about Derrick Rose’s ability to play as it currently stands.

"“Maybe he’s not exactly the same as he was when he was 23, but he’s still better than so many guards out there, and he could show it, playing in Minnesota and in the playoffs, he reminded people of how good he is.”"

Whether you agree with this statement or not, Crawford does make a good point. Just 2 seasons ago, Rose averaged a noteworthy 18.0 points, 4.4 assists, 3.8 rebounds, and 0.7 steals per game on 47.1% shooting from the field as the starting point guard for the New York Knicks in 64 games. He was able to stay healthy for a good portion of the season as well.

Furthermore, although injuries did plague him for most of this past season, Rose still performed during the postseason after he got back into the rhythm of basketball.  Over the span of 5 games during the 1st round against the Houston Rockets, Rose averaged an impressive 14.2 points, 2.6 assists, and 1.8 rebounds on 50.9 percent shooting from the field and 70.0 percent (7-10) shooting from beyond the arc in 23.8 minutes per contest.

Yes, the sample size is small but the point still remains. While injuries will likely prevent him from ever starting again, Rose can bring the same skill and high-level play to teams as a reserve. He’s still a very good finisher around the rim and has been shooting with more confidence.

Rose may still be solid, but does he fit in with the Bulls and their future?

As aforementioned, the Bulls don’t currently have much defense on the roster and an injury prone Rose that was never a great defender, to begin with, may not be the best option for the backup point guard role. However, as always, a healthy Rose could be beneficial off the bench for Chicago.

First and foremost, Rose is still a better guard than Cameron Payne. Also, most free agent point guards next season will likely chase big money or remain with their current teams, so guys like Trey Burke or Patrick Beverley may not want to play in Chicago. Rose wouldn’t need much more than $3 million initially and would provide instant offense and a veteran presence off the bench.

Kris Dunn would still be a consistent starter and Rose could be a great mentor for the talented young guard. Not to mention, Rose will always be near to the hearts of many Bulls fans and a reunion could prove to be profitable as well.

If Rose doesn’t work out in Chicago, he can retire as a Bull – which most fans seem to want anyways – and wouldn’t be hurting an elite team as the rebuild is technically still going on.

The likelihood of the Bulls landing a big name free agent or even a solid backup point guard is fairly low and Rose may end up being the best option available. He’s not the ideal fit and there are certainly concerns, but his ability to score off the bench and his leadership could prove valuable for a young Bulls roster.

A Derrick Rose signing at this point in his career is definitely a low-risk, high-reward type of situation. He’s basically established himself as a reserve point guard for right now and wouldn’t ask for much because a lot of teams have lost interest in the 29-year-old guard.

Derrick Rose can be a valuable asset for the Chicago Bulls over the next few seasons and many have expressed their desire for Rose to end his career in Chicago. Let’s make it happen.