Derrick Rose's professed focus on free agency bad form for Bulls leader
David HaughIn the Wake of the NewsRecent Columns
10:26 pm, September 28, 2015



Over the last four NBA regular seasons, Bulls guard Derrick Rose played in only 100 of a possible 312 games because of injuries. That's 32 percent of the schedule.

The Bulls didn't pay Rose only 32 percent of his salary. Rose made $59.7 million for his troubles.

That isn't to suggest Rose give money back. But a man recognized as a team leader owed the organization his complete focus on the coming season Monday, the opening of training camp at the Advocate Center under new coach Fred Hoiberg.

Media days typically include talk of change and championships, particularly for a team the front office kept intact to contend for an NBA title. Instead, Chicago heard loudest from one of its most enigmatic athletes ever. Rose came across as a tone-deaf millionaire worried about feeding his family with his next big payday still two years away.

Longer hair and a thin beard gave Rose a slightly different look. Unfortunately, he sounded the same. There isn't an NBA defender that gives Rose more trouble than a microphone.

For the record, Rose brought up the topic of 2017 free agency himself, unsolicited, answering a question about whether he had moved on mentally since an ex-girlfriend filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles alleging he and two friends sexually assaulted her.

"I've been moved on ... this whole summer I had tunnel vision,'' Rose said, expanding on his first public comments since the suit was filed last month. "My mindset was I was working out every day and spending as much time as possible with my son, making sure my family is financially stable. As far as you see all the money they're passing out in this league — just telling the truth — and knowing my day will be coming up soon. It's not for me. It's for (son) P.J. and his future. So that's what I'm thinking about right now."

Me: Free agency?

Rose: Yeah.

Me: You're already thinking about free agency?

Rose: I'm preparing for it.

When general manager Gar Forman kept referring to Rose being happy and "in a good place" this summer, maybe he meant at the bank. Imagine how much goodwill Rose could have created by expressing a willingness to sacrifice salary in 2017 if it meant the Bulls would be able to surround him with more talent to win it all.

Defenders of Rose quickly pointed out he later made clear he hopes to re-sign with the Bulls when his contract expires — assuming they want him — but, sorry, it doesn't excuse a franchise player publicly establishing a priority list that starts with getting paid. Especially a player making $20 million this season from the Bulls alone, not to mention his $185 million deal with Adidas. How about sounding like a guy more interested in being part of Bulls history in 2016 rather than the NBA's free-agent class of 2017?

"I'm trying to prepare myself and my family," Rose said, referring to NBA salary-cap increases beginning in 2016-17. "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 overprepared."

The Bulls came prepared to fully support Rose in the wake of an ugly lawsuit, still pending in Los Angeles County Superior Court, that Forman uncomfortably acknowledged he first saw reported on TMZ. A spokeswoman for Rose's attorney told the Tribune's Patrick O'Connell there was nothing new Monday to report on the case, which differs from Blackhawks star Patrick Kane's because it lacks a police investigation.

Whether Rose was asked about seeing Kane at the Loop building where they both live or about changing his lifestyle, he strongly projected confidence in his innocence.

"It's not true," Rose said. "I take it as motivation. ... The devil is working."

Rose and the Bulls start working Tuesday under Hoiberg to maximize the roster in ways Tom Thibodeau couldn't. The Hoiberg era began essentially with the Bulls trying to convince everybody they will be a better team with the same players. Their biggest offseason addition was assistant coach Jim Boylen.

Hoiberg, who traveled the world visiting Bulls players, perhaps made his most important stop in Las Vegas, where he picked Warriors coach Steve Kerr's brain over lunch. Like Kerr did at Golden State in his first season as an NBA head coach, Hoiberg brings a fresh approach and an open mind.

"I've not made any decisions who's going to be our starters," Hoiberg said.

One of them figures to be a point guard fueled by doubts he ever can return to MVP form — and money.

"I know I'm great," Rose said. "Some people don't know I'm great, but that's cool. ... I can't get mad at how they criticize the way I play or the way I used to play. I know I'm great."

If, for some reason, Rose isn't great this season, there's always 2016-17. He would be the first to tell you that's his contract year.