Reggie Rose Speaks Out Against The Chicago Bulls

The Chicago Bulls loss to the Miami Heat on Thursday night was a debacle. But that was not the debacle that was on the minds of everyone in attendance at the United Center on Thursday. Thursday signaled the NBA Trade Deadline and the Bulls remained quiet and opted not to make a trade. The Bulls inactivity at the Trade Deadline triggered Reggie Rose, Derrick Rose’s brother, to speak out against the Bulls and their sense of inactivity.

"“What have you pieced together? Have you made any moves? Have you made any trades to get better? You know all roads to the championship lead through Miami,” Reggie Rose told ESPNChicago.com. “What pieces have you put together for the physical playoffs? ESPN Chicag0"

One should wonder what impact players were available in Reggie Rose’s world where he apparently is a general manager. Because in the world that the Bulls front office is in, there were no trades to be made. J.J. Redick? Andrea Bargnani? While Redick would have been a significant improvement over Richard Hamilton, the move would have only signaled a marginal improvement for the Bulls overall. While Bargnani is a respectable outside shooter, the Bulls would have lost too much rebounding potential had they made the trade that would have sent Carlos Boozer to the Toronto Raptors for Bargnani. Redick was the only notable player to be traded at the NBA trade deadline as the Bulls followed a trend that saw most NBA teams remain inactive at the trade deadline.

While Reggie Rose supports Joakim Noah and Luol Deng, he says that there is only so much that the players can do.

"“Joakim Noah is a great player. Luol Deng is a great player. But you need more than that. You have to put together pieces to your main piece. The players can only do so much. It’s up to the organization to make them better.” ESPN Chicago"

This particular comment from Reggie Rose is when it becomes clear that Reggie Rose is not speaking on the behalf of his brother, Derrick, rather he is speaking for his 15 minutes of fame. Derrick Rose has been praised for his willingness to not sell-out in trying to recruit superstar players to the Bulls. The fact of the matter is Derrick Rose is a basketball player, and he believes he is the best player every time he takes the court. The reason why Rose did not push for Dwight Howard, LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, etc is because he is loyal to the Bulls organization and the teammates that surround him.

Reggie Rose indicated that the Bulls inactivity could play a factor in whether or not Rose returns this season, and if Rose does return this season, Reggie Rose questions whether it would be a basketball decision or financial decision.

"“Everyone is expecting Derrick to come back,” Reggie Rose said. “If Derrick comes back, they’re going to sell more tickets. Is the reason for Derrick to come back to win a championship or make money? Right now, I don’t believe a championship. Everything in the NBA is financial.” ESPN Chicago"

Speaking of financials, Reggie Rose should look at the fact that the Bulls have a $74 million payroll this season. With that payroll, completing a trade would have been a difficult process for the Bulls’ front office. As for whether Rose’s return would be a basketball decision or financial decision, the fact of the matter is it will be neither. Rose’s return will be a Derrick Rose decision. The Bulls have millions invested in Rose for the long-term future, and it is naive to think that the team would rush their multi-million dollar investment back prematurely. Derrick Rose will return when Derrick Rose is ready to return. That is a decision that Derrick–not Reggie–Rose will make for himself. That decision could be made this season or it could be made next season, in any event, it is decision that Bulls fans should feel confident about.

After being put in a difficult position because of his brother, Derrick Rose released the following statement prior to to the Bulls game against the Miami Heat.

"I have always felt that the Bulls organization’s goals have been the same as mine and that is to bring another championship to this city"