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Chicago Bulls: PG Derrick Rose projecting Windy City return?

By Andrew Miller

DENVER, CO - MARCH 12: Derrick Rose #25 of the Minnesota Timberwolves looks on during the game against the Denver Nuggets on March 12, 2019 at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Bart Young/NBAE via Getty Images)
DENVER, CO - MARCH 12: Derrick Rose #25 of the Minnesota Timberwolves looks on during the game against the Denver Nuggets on March 12, 2019 at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Bart Young/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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What would it take for the Chicago Bulls to be able to bring in a veteran point guard like Derrick Rose in free agency this summer?

The free agent is going to heat up more and more, especially in the case of the Chicago Bulls, as time moves toward the summer. The Chicago Bulls regular season is dwindling down and the rumors surrounding free agency are going to continue to swirl at the moment. However, one thing that is certainly an emerging storyline worth following in the Windy City is the potential return of former superstar point guard Derrick Rose via the free agent market this summer.

Free agency is going to be a crazy and turbulent time in the Windy City, especially if it involves bringing current Minnesota Timberwolves injured guard Derrick Rose back into the fold. Derrick Rose is a former MVP winner with the Bulls, but that seems so long ago thanks to a rash of knee injuries that plagued him over the past decade or so.

Nonetheless, the production we saw from Derrick Rose off the bench for the Timberwolves made some Bulls fans excited as to the prospect of him returning to the Windy City.

Derrick Rose is a free agent this summer if the Timberwolves don’t re-sign the 30-year-old bench contributor. He was due less than $3 million for his current base salary, but he’ll likely get more than that on his next contract this off-season. We’re likely looking at a deal for D-Rose that puts him around $6 or $7 million for the 2019-20 regular season.

What has to be pushing some teams away from pursuing Rose in free agency this summer is yet another injury that ended this season early for him as a member of the Timberwolves. He only played in 51 games before his season ended thanks to elbow surgery.

However, the resurgence that Rose had posting a player efficiency rating around 20 and 18.0 points per game this year drew some intrigue back to his skill set and production. When Rose is healthy and ready to go, there’s no question he’s one of the better veteran point guards for the price in the NBA today.

Considering the Bulls have a gaping need to fill with a veteran point guard this off-season, Rose does seem like a good fit. The Bulls likely can’t afford to shell out the money required to land someone like superstar point guards Kyrie Irving or Kemba Walker in free agency either. In theory, Rose fits this need well for the Bulls.

According to K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune, there is a chance that the Bulls try to pursue Rose in free agency. But, that same report also indicated that the chances the Bulls pursue Rose decreased after this latest injury news. At least there are some rumors with backing that the Bulls could actually give Rose a look in free agency.

Related Story. Early free agency point guard big board for Chicago Bulls. light

We’ll see how the Bulls front office handles this situation with Rose moving forward. John Paxson and Gar Forman need to proceed with caution in regard to Rose’s contract talks on the open market this summer. He’s got a lot of talent and production left in him, but he also has a vast injury history that will still keep up with him.