Derrick Rose: 5 Best-Case Scenario Comparisons

3. Ricky Rubio

Ricky Rubio applies to Rose for three reasons: 1) Like Rose, Rubio has also suffered a torn ACL in his young NBA career, 2) Like Rose, Rubio is not a very good perimeter shooter and 3) Without athleticism or a three-point shot to rely on, Rose might want to focus on distributing the ball when he returns.

No one’s suggesting that Derrick Rose is anywhere near Ricky Rubio’s level of mastery when it comes to facilitating. Some players just aren’t born with that kind of ridiculous court vision and high passing IQ like Rubio was. But isn’t it worth noting that Rubio is still a very effective NBA player despite not being able to knock down shots from the outside?

Rubio isn’t a high flier and he attacks the rim with the ferocity of a kitten in comparison to Rose’s proverbial lion. But Rubio is a very good floor general whose return had an immediate impact on his team’s ability to win games. Rose may never be a scoring leader again, but he needs to find a way to have that same kind of impact without being “the man.”

The Bulls are going to pay whatever Jimmy Butler wants this summer to keep him around. Gasol still has a few good years left in the tank. If Chicago can get a healthy Rose for the 2015-16 season, Rose’s new role should be setting up those teammates that are currently in a better position to lead the Bulls offensively.

Rose will never be the kind of creative facilitator that Rubio is. But if he can change his mentality to be a little more team-based (especially on the not taking so many damn three-pointers front), he will still be able to help Chicago without putting himself at risk as frequently as he was.

Next: A Role Model