Derrick Rose is back with a vengeance. The Chicago Bulls point guard is reportedly healthy after back-to-back seasons destroyed by injuries. A lot has been made about what Rose's future will look as many are skeptical that he will be not be the same player that won the MVP award just a few seasons ago. However, Rose is determined to prove people wrong and he believes the Bulls have the roster to make it happen.
The Chicago Bulls missed out on signing their two top free agent targets in Carmelo Anthony and LeBron James. The team settled for Pau Gasol who will make a difference, but is not the scoring threat Anthony is. Rose admits he is disappointed the Bulls failed to land either player, knowing they could have been the x-factor for Chicago, but he is confident the roster the team has now is built to win.
"I think we have a contender," Rose said, via ESPN.com. "I wouldn't say ... (people) were saying put us at the top of the East or whatever, but we have a contender team. We know as a team what we were trying to do. We all have one goal. And individually, this whole summer I think everybody worked on their games, and everybody's trying to compete for that title next year."
In the offseason, the Bulls acquired Gasol along with European star Nikola Mirotic and guard Aaron Brooks along with drafting Doug McDermott. Rose is thrilled by the moves the team made noting that Brooks and McDermott pair well with players like Jimmy Butler. However, Butler may or may not be on the team next year if Chicago is able to pull off a trade for Kevin Love. They re-entered the race after clearing cap space and getting free agents under contract. Rose is not concerned about the trade rumors, focusing on the players already on the roster instead of the ones that are not.
"I can't think about that right now," Rose said. "That's up to the front office. I'm riding with whatever decision they make. My job right now is just to prepare for this and just try to keep my body healthy."
According to Steve Kyler of Basketball Insiders, the Bulls have put a deadline on a trade for Kevin Love. Right now, the team is not the frontrunner for a deal considering the Cavaliers are offering up No. 1 draft pick, Andrew Wiggins. However, if he is pulled from negotiations then Chicago stands a chance with a package including Taj Gibson and possibly Mirotic. McDermott cannot be traded for just less than 30 days after signing his contract a week ago. Right now, the Bulls best offseason move was getting a healthy Rose back on the court, everything else is just a bonus.