Report: Derrick Rose open to potential return to the Chicago Bulls

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As Derrick Rose approaches free agency this off-season, could the former MVP could be interested in a return to the Chicago Bulls?

In an appearance on 670 AM The Score, his agent BJ Armstrong said Rose would be "open" to a reunion with the franchise who drafted him #1 overall in 2008.

"I think we’re going to look at everything, we want to look at the situation," Armstrong said. "There isn’t a situation we would not look at because Derrick is still a very capable player. We’ll see what the Bulls have.

"There’s no secret, there’s no doubt that in his heart, Chicago will always be there. We’ll see. I don’t know what the Bulls are going to do at this particular time … If it presented itself, we’d be open to that conversation."

 

At this point in his career, Rose would likely prefer to be playing on a contender, with the Bulls currently 22-58 and very much in the process of a rebuild. 

However, Chicago holds a speical place in Rose's heart, after spenidng his first eight seasons playing for his hometown team,  averaging 19.7 points and 6.2 assists, making three All-Star appearances and in 2011 became the youngest player to ever win MVP at age 22. His time in Chicago was disrupted by recurring knee injuries and he later had stints with the New York Knicks and Cleveland Cavaliers. 

The 30-year-old enjoyed a resurgent season with the Timberwolves in 2018/19, putting himself in the Sixth Man of the Year conversation, averaging 18 points and 4.3 assists, on 48.2% from the field and a career-high 37% from the three-point line. 

Rose started 13 of his 51 appearances for the Timberwolves this season, none more impressive than his career-high 50 point effort against the Utah Jazz on Halloween. Rose enjoyed a special moment in Chicago in his return to the United Center in December with the crowd showering him with MVP chants.

Rose is sidelined for the remainder of the season after undergoing season-ending arthroscopic surgery to remove bone chips from his right elbow.

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Benyam Kidane is a senior NBA editor for The Sporting News.