Michael Carter-Williams is a smart man.
Soon after his trade to the Chicago Bulls became official, it also became official that the team was going to let him wear No. 1, Derrick Rose’s old number, per Sean Highkin of the Athletic:
Confirmed with the Bulls that Michael Carter-Williams will wear No. 1
— Sean Highkin (@highkin) October 17, 2016
Some tiny level of hysteria naturally ensued.
How could the Bulls do that? Rose has only been gone a few months? Sure, he didn’t turn out to be Michael Jordan’s heir apparent, but shouldn’t Chicago still retire his number?
On and on it went, until Carter-Williams took matters into his own hands.
First, there was this not-so-cryptic tweet:
So happy to be in Chicago as far as my number goes nothing is official until tonight.
— Michael Carter-Willi (@MCW1) October 18, 2016
And then came news of an official change, per Chuck Garfien of CSN Chicago:
Just spoke with Michael Carter-Williams. He didn't want to cause a Derrick Rose controversy with #1 jersey. So he'll wear #7 instead.
— Chuck Garfien (@ChuckGarfien) October 18, 2016
Look, there really shouldn’t be an issue. Rose, who is still facing a civil trial levied by an ex-girlfriend who says the point guard and two of his friends sexually assaulted her, didn’t do enough with the Bulls overall to warrant his jersey being retired. There was a two to four year period during which he was supposed to bring them back to the mountaintop, but then injuries derailed said euphoria swiftly and completely.
Yes, that’s unfair. And yes, the Bulls could get away with retiring Rose’s number if they wanted to. If they don’t, they should be allowed to give it away to whomever they please.
That, of course, won’t stop people from being pissed off or talking about it, which is why, for Carter-Williams’ sake, he was smart to put distance between himself and this should-be non-issue.
