The Chicago Bulls are hoping that Derrick Rose can return to practice soon after dealing with a facial fracture and reports have the point guard recovering well from his injury. Jimmy Butler has been leading the offense in the preseason with Rose out and in the future the team could look at a Taj Gibson trade to add some depth behind Joakim Noah.
Rose has reportedly been able to return to the Bulls, but he has not yet been cleared for basketball activities or practice yet, according to KC Johnson at the Chicago Tribune. Rose suffered a facial fracture on the first day of practice and after being away from the team for a couple weeks, Rose has returned and a clearance for practice could be around the corner. ESPN.com reports that Rose was back at the team practice facility and that head coach Fred Hoiberg said that "hopefully" Rose will be cleared in the "next couple days."
The Bulls come in after losing to the New Orleans Pelicans in the preseason and the team next will play on Wednesday against the Pistons. Rose may not end up playing at all in the preseason, but reports have him likely ready and recovered for the season opener at the end of the month. The Bulls have four more preseason games over the next two weeks and the Bulls likely will want to be cautious with Rose until he is fully ready to return.
Hoiberg said that he "hoped" that Rose could return on Thursday, but that Rose is still dealing with some swelling and blurred vision from the injury. Rose could end up wearing a mask after he is healed up to help protect the area from getting hit again and Hoiberg said that Rose is "definitely making progress." Hoiberg is putting in a new system after taking over from Tom Thibodeau and he said that Rose has been watching film and working on the system as much as he can while sidelined, but that he wants Rose to "get back on the floor soon." Rose is obviously a key part of the offense and with Rose out for now, Jimmy Butler has been taking the lead on the offensive side of the ball.
Butler comes into the season after having a career year and he signed a max extension with the Bulls over the summer. Last season Butler averaged a career best 20 points per game and nearly six rebounds per contest. Hoiberg said that Joakim Noah will be out on Monday with a knee issue, while the team is hoping to have Taj Gibson back next week. Gibson is on his way back from ankle surgery and could be ready for the season opener.
Earlier in the summer Johnson reported at the Tribune that Gibson could end up a trade target this season, as the team has depth at the position with Pau Gasol, Nikola Mirotic and Bobby Portis. The team has Cameron Bairstow behind Noah, but with Noah continuing to deal with some injury issues, there is a chance the Bulls could look at making a move down the line this season to add some more depth.
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