The Chicago Bulls are preparing for life without Derrick Rose once again. The team entered the 2014-15 season with hopes of contending in the Eastern Conference after the point guard returned healthy and other roster upgrades were made. However, Rose is out once again with no timetable for his return. As his teammates prepare to carry the scoring load, they doubt Rose comes back to play again this year.
Rose has not been ruled out for the season, but his return is certainly not expected. The point guard suffered a torn meniscus in his right knee for the second straight season and is expected to undergo surgery to repair the issue. The Bulls have not put a date on a return for the point guard, but according to ESPN.com, the recovery time period is normally much longer for a second surgery. This is the third season-ending injury Rose has endured and Chicago is trying to remain optimistic about his potential.
"I think we're all optimistic about it," Butler said, via ESPN.com. "We want him back and I'm sure he's going to try and get back as soon as possible."
With Rose out, the Chicago Bulls becomes the Butler show. The shooting guard is having one of his better seasons to date as he prepares to be restricted free agent come the offseason. The Chicago Sun Times is reporting that the Bulls are planning to offer Butler a max contract in free agency and that now becomes more urgent than ever with Rose out. The Bulls can no longer count on the point guard being the center piece of their team, but Butler is a player they can build around for the future.
Joakim Noah has battled his share of knee issues this season while watching undergo rehab for the past few years. He understands just how tough the point guard is but admits that he really is not sure Rose will be back this season.
"Just really sad," Noah said. "Angry, sad -- he doesn't deserve it. It's just really disappointing ... I feel bad for him, but I know he's a tough guy and he's going to bounce back. Mentally, I think we're a little bit drained with everything that happened. But I just know that we're going to have to play a lot harder if we want to be successful."
The chances the Bulls contend in the Eastern Conference are much more slim after the injury. Taj Gibson, Pau Gasol and Nikola Mirotic will take care of defensive needs while Kirk Hinrich, Aaron Brooks and Butler become the main scoring threats. By the sound of the locker room, Rose will not be back for some time.
