The Bulls re-acquiring Derrick Rose seems like more of a feel-good concept than a real possibility, but trading for the former MVP makes tons of sense.
The writing is on the wall for the Detroit Pistons, as a rebuild seems more imminent than ever in the Motor City. It is looking more and more likely that Detroit will be blowing up their roster at the deadline, and the Chicago Bulls should look to take advantage of this.
Derrick Rose may be the Piston’s most tradable asset as of now, as he is on a very fair contract for the both this season and next season. The former league MVP has proven that his 2018-2019 campaign was far from a fluke by posting stellar numbers this season as well. His level of play coupled with his great contract make him an extremely valuable commodity, should Detroit choose to move him.
The biggest piece of this deal for Detroit is Chandler Hutchison, one of the Bulls’ first round selections from the 2018 class. The former 22nd overall pick is an above-average athlete who has shown promise on the boards and on the defensive end. His scoring efficiency has also improved this season, though his limited minutes and nagging injuries have inhibited him from putting up bigger numbers. Hutchison has the potential to be a solid player in the NBA, and at just 23 years of age he fits Detroits timeline well.
Denzel Valentine is a low-risk, high-reward player who could be a steal for the Pistons. There is no logical reason as to why Valentine is not used in Chicago, but if he is given the opportunity to play in Detroit, he may end up playing like the lottery pick he was in 2016.
His shooting, passing, and ball handling make him an ideal modern basketball player. If the experiment in Detroit works out, the team will be able to extend a qualifying offer to resign him this summer, whereas if the Pistons decide they no longer need him he can enter unrestricted free agency.
The two second rounders being sent to Detroit would certainly help get their rebuild started, as stockpiling picks is one of the wisest decisions a franchise can make in rebuilding a roster. In addition, these selections are likely to be some of the higher ones in the second round.
With DRose returning to Chicago, the Bulls would get the scoring spark that they so desperately need. Tomas Satoransky and Kris Dunn have had great seasons respectively, but niether of these guards are volume scorers. Adding Rose to the mix, either off of the bench or as a starter, would help Chicago immensely to solve their low-scoring issues.
Rose could be exactly what Chicago needs to push them into a playoff spot. In addition, team control of Rose for 2020-2021 is also a huge plus, in that he would be a part of the picture past just this season.