Reggie Rose, the brother and manager of Chicago Bulls guard Derrick Rose, said that the team’s franchise player’s return from a torn ACL injury this season could be determined by the current roster. The Bulls did not make a trade before Thursday’s deadline, and Reggie Rose was not happy.
He said the lack of championship-caliber talent around Rose could be a “big factor” in whether he returns this season from the injury. He pointed out that he was speaking for himself, not his brother.
“What have you pieced together?” Reggie Rose said to ESPNChicago.com. “Have you made any moves? Have you made any trades to get better? You know all roads to the championship lead through Miami. What pieces have you put together for the physical playoffs?
“Joakim Noah is a great player. Luol Deng’s 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.”
He went on. “It’s frustrating to see my brother play his heart and soul out for the team and them not put anything around him,” Reggie Rose said.
Chicago vice president John Paxson said last month on ESPN Radio: “In order for us to do something, we’re not in a position to take on any real salary, so we’re kind of limited in what we can do. I think our team has grown. It’s not always pretty. Let’s face it, we’ve had some ugly games this year, and that’s kind of who we are right now. But we do grind it out and play hard.
“You’re always on the lookout to do certain things, but I think our move hopefully will be bringing Derrick back into the fold.”
The Bulls, who have had the NBA’s best record the past two seasons, have been without Rose all season as he recovers from May knee surgery but have stayed near the top of the Central Division standings. They enter Thursday’s game against the Miami with a 31-22 record and are the fifth seed in the East.
Initially believed to return sometime after last weekend’s All-Star break, Rose said last week he wouldn’t “mind missing this year” if he didn’t feel ready to return and insisted that the decision is his to make.
Reggie Rose said the Bulls have known all along Rose could sit out this season but the organization hasn’t mentioned it because it would affect ticket sales.
“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.”
Bulls general manager Gar Forman declined comment when contacted by ESPNChicago.com.
