Can Derrick Rose be great again?

Before the knee injuries started piling up, the beauty of Derrick Rose's game was in its consistency. Even when the Bulls star was having an off night, he could still take over a contest seemingly whenever he wanted. The speed, explosion and athleticism he possessed was unlike anything the league had seen before on a nightly basis. But as Rose tries to make his way back again this season, it's fair to wonder whether he will ever be a dominating star again.

Rose only played in 59 regular-season games because of various injuries last season, but the biggest difference in his game was that he no longer had the ability to put his teammates on his back each night. Some nights Rose could take over, as he did at times in the playoffs, and some nights he couldn't. His teammates and coaches all knew the ability was still there, but nobody knew what to expect.

In the 2010-11 season in which Rose became the youngest MVP in league history, he played in 81 games. In those games, 33.9 percent of his shots came from within the restricted area, according to ESPN Stats and Information. He shot 58.1 percent on those shots. In the 2014-15 season, just 29 percent of Rose's shots came from within the restricted area, and he converted 53.3 percent of them.

The Bulls no longer are relying on Rose to do everything offensively.Jimmy Butler has become an All-Star and comes into the season believing he can be even more efficient. Pau Gasol earned his first All-Star start last season, averaging 18.5 points a game. The Bulls hope Nikola Mirotic and second-year shooter Doug McDermott will thrive in Hoiberg's offensive system.In 2010-11, 24.1 percent of Rose's shots were 3-pointers, and that number jumped to 32.5 percent in 2014-15. As much as Rose tried to brush off a difference in aggression toward the rim, the reality for the soon-to-be 27-year-old is that to get better this season, he has to push the fear of attacking again to the side. It's much easier said than done given his injury history, but building up Rose's confidence to attack the rim again is one of the biggest challenges for first-year head coach Fred Hoiberg.

But as has always been the case for the Bulls, Rose continues to be the player who makes everything go. If the Bulls want to have any chance at getting past LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers in a potential playoff series, Rose has to be the offensive force leading the way. As good as Butler has been over the past year, he still hasn't shown to have Rose's ability to consistently create -- and make -- his own shots. He hasn't proven to be the guy who can hit the big shots and be the player the rest of his teammates seek out late in games. Whether he warrants it with his recent play is up for debate, but Rose is still the player his team seeks out when the game is on the line.

Rose's longtime trainer, Rob McClanaghan, believes the point guard is starting to look like his old self again in drills. All the rust from the time away is starting to subside. But Rose understands he has to go out and prove he is still an elite player.

It will be intriguing to see how Hoiberg handles the psychological impact of Rose's second full season back from injury. Former Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau was Rose's biggest public defender over the past three-plus years and rarely even showed any outward frustration toward Rose in the media. The Bulls hope Hoiberg's free-flowing system will help Rose get his mojo back. In the short term, Hoiberg's best move may be to show his point guard the numbers on driving to the rim and let those sink in for a while.

Rose has always loved having the ability to prove people wrong when critics have said he can't do something. That may be his biggest motivation of all as he tries to write another chapter of his rewritten legacy.

Bulls not expected to rest Derrick Rose

Bulls guard Derrick Rose does not expect to miss games due to rest this season, Sean Highkin of Bleacher Report reports. 

Rose was rested in certain situations last season, but with fewer back-to-backs on the schedule and another year clear of knee surgery, he's not entering the season with any restrictions.

Rose was a bit of a disappointment in 51 games last season, averaging 17.7 points and 4.9 assists but shooting just 40.5 percent from the field and a paltry 28 percent from three.

He still has the potential to explode for big stat lines, but Rose is far from the fantasy commodity he once was.

Bulls' Derrick Rose is already looking toward his 2017 free agency

The Chicago Bulls have stood by Derrick Rose. They made him the franchise star immediately after drafting him in 2008. They were patient with his return from the devastating knee injury in 2012, even when his return dragged on past expected dates. They were patient with him when he had the meniscus setback. They've kept him as their featured star even with the rise of Jimmy Butler.

However, this is a business, and just as teams will always look out for what's best for them, so too do the players have to keep their best interests in mind. Apparently, Rose feels that he's underpaid, since he spoke pretty openly about the fact that he's going to be chasing the money in free agency. From CBS Chicago:

The sequence began when Rose was asked how much a sexual assault civil lawsuit filed against him in California by an ex-girlfriend weighed on him and affected his preparation for the new season.

“I've been moved on,” Rose said. “This whole summer I had tunnel vision. My mindset was just making sure that I was working out every day, and spending as much time as possible with my son (P.J.). And focusing on those two things. Making sure my family is financially stable, as far as seeing all the money that they're passing out in this league. Just telling the truth. Just knowing that my day will be coming up soon, and it's not for me. It's for P.J. and his future, so that's what I'm thinking about right now.'“I'm preparing for it.''

Asked a follow-up question later, Rose emphasized that he wants his future to be in Chicago but indicated his mind is on getting his fair share of cash in a changing financial landscape in which a massive influx of TV money is leading to rising player salaries.

“Here, it's here,” Rose said of where he wants to play. “But when you talk about that much money, the only thing you can do is prepare for it. I'm trying to prepare, not only myself, but my family. And I'm doing this all for my son. Like I said, I'm thinking about his future. Even though we're all right, we're comfortable, when you talk about that x-amount of dollars, I think it raises everyone's eyebrows, so there's nothing wrong with being over-prepared.''

Source: Derrick Rose Already Has Eyes On 2017 Free Agency « CBS Chicago.

Rose is set to make $20 million in 2015-16 and over $21 million the following season before entering free agency. By then he'll be turning 29. He has not played more than 60 games in a season since he won the 2011 MVP. Rose is looking after his own financial interests, and while it won't play well with fans, in a vacuum it's reasonable and understandable. This game gets as much as it can from you while you're still valuable and then gives very little back once that point has passed.

Still, Rose got so much money in his last contract that the CBA literally has a rule designed around his name to provide players with extra money. Rose is currently the ninth highest-paid player in the NBA.

Rose wasn't the same last year. Maybe another year removed from all the problems (outside of his problem in the second half of last year that shelved him for several weeks) will bring him closer to the MVP player that was so phenomenal. If it doesn't, however, his day might not bring him the kind of reward he's thinking it will. Either way, if you believe that you can't fault a player for being honest with the media, you can't view Rose's comments in a negative light.

Rose was definitely sending a message, however.

Derrick Rose has his mind on his money and his money on his mind. (USATSI)

Derrick Rose lost hearts and minds with bizarre free agency remarks

Chicago Bulls fans don’t need to worry too much about the sexual assault allegations against Derrick Rose. The star point guard is very confident in his inevitable exoneration.This won’t be a distraction to him and his teammates. Rose isn’t worried about this at all.  He’s already looking ahead to other things, like his free agency; in 2017.

Yes, Rose isn’t looking ahead to July 1, 2016, 11 months from now. He’s looking ahead to July 1, 2017, 23 months from now. That’s when he may have a chance to hit the open market.

“I’m trying to prepare myself and my family,” Rose said, referring to the NBA increasing the salary cap and the max contract amount available beginning in 2016-17 (due to the influx of additional television revenue)

“It’s all for my son, even though we’re comfortable. You talk about ‘X’ amount of dollars, it raised everybody’s eyebrows. There’s nothing wrong with being over-prepared,” Rose said.

This is certainly a stark contrast from what we usually hear from star athletes: “I’m taking it one day at a time.”

Derrick Rose told the media he’s focused on something that begins exactly 640 days from now.

Rose will make $20 million this season. He has a $185 million endorsement deal with Adidas. In the words of Dr. Dre that’s

“hella Swiss or Mozzarella, pockets swella, getting money like a bank teller.”

What made Derrick Rose’s 2017 free-agency comments even more inexplicable is the fact that they were unsolicited. No one wanted to talk about this topic, but Rose. One couldn’t help but flash back to last season when Rose made his controversial remarks about saving his body for post NBA career business endeavors and being able to enjoy his son’s graduation.

Now Derrick Rose is, as Puff Daddy would put it “tying to get my hands on some Grants like Horace.”

“This whole summer I had tunnel vision,” Derrick Rose continued.

“My mindset was just making sure that I was working out every day, and spending as much time as possible with my son (P.J.). And focusing on those two things. Making sure my family is financially stable, as far as seeing all the money that they’re passing out in this league. Just telling the truth. Just knowing that my day will be coming up soon, and it’s not for me. It’s for P.J. and his future, so that’s what I’m thinking about right now.'”

Rose was asked about where he wants to build his future. “Here, it’s here,” he answered referring to his hometown and current team. So let’s give him credit for that. At least he was able to salvage one soundbite on this specific topic that didn’t make him lose hearts and minds.

Paul M. Banks owns, operates and sometimes writes The Sports Bank.net, which is partnered with FOX Sports Engage Network. The website is also featured on News Now.

Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, currently contributes to the Chicago Tribune RedEye. He also appears regularly on numerous talk shows all across the country. Catch him Tuesdays on KOZN 1620 The Zone.

Derrick Rose says assault charge is providing him with motivation

CHICAGO — Derrick Rose was both unwavering and defiant on Monday afternoon when addressing the sexual assault allegations that clouded his offseason.

“I will be proven innocent, but at the same time, it hasn’t affected anything. It’s not true. I take it as motivation,” Rose said from the Bulls’ practice facility at their media day Monday. “I feel like the devil is just working. I feel like I’m on the right track as far as where I want to be at in my life. And I feel like when you’re that focused, people try to take you down. I’m very confident that I will be proven innocent.”

Rose, in his first extended remarks, responded to a civil lawsuit filed against him alleging that he and two friends gang-raped a woman in August 2013. The plaintiff’s suit claimed that the woman, known as Jane Doe in the court filings, was drugged at a party in Beverly Hills, Calif., and then sexually assaulted after they broke into her apartment.

Rose and his legal counsel have vehemently denied the accusations since the lawsuit was filed on August 28th. Bulls GM Gar Forman, who was largely evasive on the topic, offered his support for Rose on Monday.

“In regard to Derrick’s situation, we understand that there’s a process that he’ll need to go through, but Derrick’s part of our family and Derrick has our full support. ... I think he’s in a great place physically, I think he’s in a really good place mentally and I think his focus, just like his teammates, is on getting started tomorrow.”

“We don’t anticipate him missing any time (for legal reasons),” Forman added. “There’s been nothing brought up of that nature.”

Following three separate knee surgeries, Rose entered this offseason healthy and optimistic for the first time since 2011. He had his second meniscus surgery late last season, but returned for the playoffs where he averaged 20.3 points and 6.5 assists in 12 games. The Bulls ultimately fell in six to Cleveland — a missed opportunity given the Cavs’ injuries — and that prompted Tom Thibodeau’s firing.

As both the point guard and the face of the franchise, the Bulls are leaning on Rose to help ease the transition from Thibodeau to first-year coach Fred Hoiberg. And despite the allegations and the seemingly never-ending health questions, Rose described a sort of “tunnel vision” while working out this offseason in California.  He also, oddly, invoked free agency, which is still two years away.

“My mindset was just making sure that I was just working out everyday and spending as much time as possible with my son,” Rose said. “Making sure my family is financially stable as far as you see all the money that they’re passing out in this league. Just telling the truth. Just knowing that my day will be coming up soon (free agency) and it’s not for me. It’s for (son) P.J.

"I'm thinking about his future, even though we're alright, we're comfortable. When you talk about that X amount of dollars, I think it raises everyone's eyebrows."

Rose's comments may draw more criticism, but the former league MVP, despite his public profile and the nature of the case, doesn’t plan on changing how he lives or how he plans his future.

“I don’t think I have to alter anything. I live my life the way I live my life. I live in the moment and I enjoy life,” Rose said. “I can’t let that one incident that’s not true affect the way that I live and I’m not going to let it. I just got to take this, use it as fuel and the season is around the corner.”

The Bulls open two-a-days on Tuesday ahead of next week’s preseason opener against the Bucks. You can bet Rose is as eager as anyone to focus on basketball.