Bulls Rumors: Idea pitched of Derrick Rose returning to Chicago

Once the NBA Finals conclude between the Phoenix Suns and Milwaukee Bucks later this month, it is likely time that Bulls rumors will start running rampant once again. With the Chicago Bulls season coming to an end without postseason qualification, the playoff drought extended to four years.

First-year head coach Billy Donovan and the Bulls finished up the 2020-21 regular season with a record of 31-41, which wasn’t even good enough to get into the play-in tournament. But there is a lot of hope alive for what’s to come for Donovan and the Bulls heading into next season.

A lot of that hope, though, depends on what the front office is able to do to address a few key needs in the rotation this summer.

That includes executive vice president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas and general manager Marc Everley addressing the point guard position need. One idea pitched in a piece from K.C. Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago earlier in the week was a reunion with New York Knicks point guard and the 2010-11 NBA MVP Derrick Rose.

The idea of a reunion between the Bulls and D-Rose was always a volatile proposition. But with the complete change in coaching and front office regime since the last time that Rose played with the Bulls could make for a smoother transition if this signing were to actually happen this summer.

Could Chicago considering signing Derrick Rose amid any emerging Bulls rumors?

Here’s more on what this piece from Johnson on NBC Sports Chicago this week had to say about the Bulls potentially forming a reunion with Rose.

"The Bulls absolutely should explore signing Rose, who is, it should be noted, happy with the New York Knicks. But remember: He never wanted to leave Chicago and the Bulls. He was traded. And while that move significantly stung him, he wouldn’t have shown up for a 2017 playoff game at the United Center if he wasn’t back on good terms with the franchise."

Johnson sounds pretty confident that there’s a way that the Bulls and Rose could make this work. This could be an encouraging sign for any Bulls fans that have long awaited a potential reunion between these two sides.

There is still the problem that the Bulls could face of the injury history of Rose. He’s got more limited roles in his last three stops in the past three seasons. Mostly in a role coming off the bench, Rose excelled in a newfound role with the likes of the Minnesota Timberwolves, Detroit Pistons, and now the Knicks.

On the other hand, it is a new development in Rose’s career since all of the knee injuries he experienced with the Bulls that he found sustained success in a big market team. He was solid for the Knicks and head coach Tom Thibodeau this season. That could mean he’s ready for a task like succeeding with the Bulls heading into next season.

If the Bulls were to sign Rose, they should keep second-year point guard Coby White ready to assume the reigns of a starting role if injury issues are to resurface. Combo guard Tomas Satoransky could also be another option to keep as more of an insurance policy.

There’s no doubt that Rose still has the ability to be a starting point guard in the NBA in terms of talent and overall efficiency. It is the age and injury concerns that would limit him to become a starting point guard with a unit that also features the likes of star shooting guard Zach LaVine and center Nikola Vucevic.