The Chicago Bulls have traded Derrick Rose to the New York Knicks according to reports. The Bulls who failed to make the post-season last time around in Fred Hoiberg’s first season at the helm have decided to cut ties with Rose, who was the 2011 MVP in the NBA regular season.
The Bulls will be sending New York Justin Holiday and a second-round pick in the 2017 NBA draft along with the multiple time all-star for the rights of Robin Lopez, Jose Calderon and Jerian Grant.
The Bulls, who selected the 27-year-old with the first overall pick in the 2008 NBA saw him grow into the role of a leader of the team, culminating in the 2010-11 season. That season we were witnesses as Rose lead the Bulls to the top seed in the Eastern Conference, averaging 25 ppg, 7.7 apg and 4.1 rpg under the tutelage of Tom Thibodeau. It, in fact, was also the first time the Bulls would go on to reach the Eastern Conference finals post-Michael Jordan era.
However, injuries to his knees in recent times has seemingly derailed a promising career. The 2015-16 season was in face the first one in which he played more than 60 games since his all-conquering 2010-11 season.
The Bulls, who missed the post-season for the time in eight years seemingly wants to go in a different direction with Jimmy Buttler emerging as the new leader of the pack. With Joachim Noah also slated to be leaving the windy city this free agency, it gives Hoiberg and co. to build a new identity.
Meanwhile, Bulls will be getting the 23-year old Grant, 23, a combo guard who was the 19th pick in last year’s draft. Lopez on the other hand, is in his second-year of a four-year contract, while Calderon is in the final year of his deal.
