Chicago Bulls: Exploring Derrick Rose as a potential fit at point guard

Derrick Rose is a free agent this offseason at the perfect time the Chicago Bulls are in desperate need of a star-studded point guard to lead their team.

“Such uncertainty is why secondary targets such as Derrick Rose can’t be ruled out. In fact, internal conversations on the viability and fit of the former Bull and former most valuable player have occurred, just as they have with all candidates,” according to Bulls insider K.C Johnson.

The Bulls have been linked to many point guard names in free agency. Outside of Rose, they have been linked to Lonzo Ball, Dennis Schroeder, and Spencer Dinwiddie.

Could a reunion between the Chicago Bulls and Derrick Rose happen next season?

The Bulls need a point guard to do the heavy lifting on both sides of the floor. The duo of Coby White and Tomas Satoransky was inefficient last season and both exposed the major weaknesses of the other.

While White could score, averaging 15.1 points per game, he turned the ball over 2.3 times per game and recorded a below-average defensive box plus/minus (-1.6) and defensive rating (115).

On the other hand, Satoransky could facilitate (4.7 assists per game), secure the ball (1.5 turnovers per game), and defend his matchups (-0.2 defensive box plus/minus). But, he couldn’t score properly (7.7 points per game).

The Bulls need more stability at the position. They need a player that can play well on both sides of the floor, lead the pack in transition, and be a leader on the floor. Derrick Rose checks off those boxes. Last season, Rose averaged 14.9 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game on 48.7 percent shooting from the floor, 41.1 percent from behind the arc, and 88.5 percent shooting from the charity stripe.

Rose also eclipsed a defensive rating of 110 and a defensive box plus/minus of 0.5, which are both better marks than both Satoransky and White. The question at hand is Rose’s longevity and comparison to other options. Rose is 32 years old now and is not the same athlete he was when he won the MVP in 2011.

That being said, a guy like Ball can run the floor better, facilitate levels above Rose, and be a fit on the Bulls’ roster long down the line at 23 years old. The same goes for Schroeder. He can score at a much higher rate, facilitate at an elite level, and can even hold up his end on the defensive side of the ball.

Is the Rose reunion to Chicago likely? It’s more likely than it was at the beginning of free agency talks. The Bulls were never linked to Rose before the reports of internal conversation about Rose’s fit came as of recent. While it’s possible, Rose seems more like a backup option at the position.

With teams reportedly interested in Tomas Satoransky via trade, the Bulls can save up to $5 million in cap space if they were to send Satoransky to another team. That would open the door to give a player like Ball or Schroeder a much higher offer in free agency.

Nevertheless, this free agency should be a fun one for Arturas Karnisovas & Co. The Bulls have some cap space and roster spots to fill. With the NBA draft approaching on July 29 and free agency opening on Aug. 2, the Bulls will be actively making moves.