Derrick Rose is apparently still Derrick Rose.
That’s the word gleefully emanating from the Chicago Bulls camp, where the youngest MVP in league history has been spending his summer rounding back into shape and form from his second season-ending knee injury in as many seasons.
The 25-year-old Rose has now played in just 49 games over the last three years but chatter is you wouldn’t know it given all the “speed and explosion” he has been exhibiting while dominating the Berto Center scene in scrimmages against teammates and other NBA types.
Rose has been engaging in basketball drills since the start of the playoffs and several weeks ago added 5-on-5, full-court scrimmages to his daily routine. His stated goal of being on hand to compete for a spot on Team USA in Vegas next month under the watchful eye of Coach Mike Krzyzewski now easily rates as a done deal.
Finally, for a team hit by some of the league’s hardest luck over the last two seasons, the stars appear to be aligning for the Bulls, who are also rumored to be among the league leaders in the chase for free-agent, All-Star forward Carmelo Anthony. The team also own the No. 16 and No. 19 picks in this week’s loaded NBA draft.
And after four seasons of largely frustrating results, the Bulls also have the option of ridding themselves of over-priced, veteran forward Carlos Boozer through the league’s amnesty provision. Chicago also owns the rights to the Sacramento Kings’ 1-10 protected pick in next year’s draft.
But it all starts with Rose, who when healthy arguably ranked as the league’s top overall point guard. Rose averaged 25 points, 7.7 assists and 4.1 rebounds in his 2010-11 MVP season. In the 10 games he played in last season, the fifth-year veteran appeared to be just turning the corner in terms of finding his rhythm when he tore the meniscus in his right knee on a simple backdoor cut to the basket in Portland.
The Bulls are also rumored to be potential players for All-star forward Kevin Love, seeking to force his way out of Minnesota after six, non-qualifying for the playoffs seasons.
