Losers of their last three games, the Chicago Bulls are entering prime rumor-mill-fixture territory.
Players are voicing concerns about how the team is playing and being run, and the Bulls have a glut of tweener assets—players who are either intriguing as prospects for a rebuilding squad or valuable to a squad looking to compete now. The Bulls themselves are being pulled in different directions. They have assets to consolidate that could end with them landing a high-impact player, but they could also try to flip some of their older players and start over, rejiggering the roster and future around Jimmy Butler, Bobby Portis, Doug McDermott and Nikola Mirotic.
Many different scenarios would, preferably, have the Bulls cutting bait with Rose. He isn’t even close to the MVP winner that he was in 2010-11, and his broken jumper has no place in the offense Fred Hoiberg is trying yet unable to install.
With Derrick Rose playing so poorly, though, a deal is unlikely. But a few NBA executives still think it’s not only possible but wholly workable, according to ESPN.com’s Zach Lowe:
Even with Rose on the books for next season, they could open about $22 million in cap room — enough to fit a max deal for a guy coming off his rookie contract, though not for a veteran free agent. They could keep Gasol’s cap hold on the books, and still have about $13 million in space for a solid veteran. Noah’s cap hold would vaporize all their room, and it’s unclear where he’ll be next season.
Chicago snagged Gasol at a below-market rate, and with their state-of-the-art practice facility, they believe they can be a player in free agency. Off-loading Rose could give them almost $45 million in room, and rival executives believe the lure of the old Rose remains enticing enough that Chicago could actually get something for him. The Bulls aren’t ready to go there yet, and likely won’t be until the summer — if they ever consider a break-up with their home-grown MVP.
It helps that, as Lowe notes, the Bulls can carve out cap space without dumping the $21.3 million Rose is owed next season. It allows them to be stingy in trade talks—especially knowing that Rose himself comes off the books in time for 2017’s cap explosion.
Still, if things continue down this path of uneasiness, with the Bulls underachieving, you have to imagine dealing Rose is at least something the front office explores. It may prove simple, complicated or impossible, but within an Eastern Conference ruled by the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Bulls need to be better.
And, at this point, getting better demands tinkering with, if not totally abandoning, a core no longer fit to contend for titles.
