Chicago Bulls: Does a Derrick Rose reunion make sense anytime soon?

There have always been rumors surrounding Derrick Rose’s potential return to the Chicago Bulls at some point, but does it still make sense to do so?

The Chicago Bulls and Detroit Pistons will both find themselves at home when the NBA resumes next month after a pair of lackluster seasons. With both teams looking ahead to a busy offseason, Derrick Rose could be a name to keep an eye on.

The former league MVP will be a hot commodity on the trade market this offseason with plenty of teams wanting to get the guard, and the Chicago Bulls should be one of them.

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The Bulls have a plethora of young, talented pieces on their roster such as Zach LaVine, Coby White, and Lauri Markkanen, among others, but have seen little success in recent memory. What this team needs is veteran leadership, and bringing in the former MVP to lead this young core would make sense.

Bringing in Rose would be far more than a sentimental reunion as the guard put up his best numbers with the Pistons this year since the 2011-12 season. The 31-year-old averaged 18.1 points, 2.4 rebounds, and 5.6 assists per game as he served as a bright spot in Detroit’s subpar season.

Rose proved that he can still produce at a high level, and the Bulls could indeed use an upgrade at the position. At point guard, the team currently has three listed on the roster, with time getting split between the trio. This group includes Kris Dunn, Tomas Satoransky, and Ryan Arcidiacono, all relatively young and inexperienced.

The Chicago Bulls have not made the postseason since 2016, and even then, they were the 8-seed. This team needs a spark now to help them contend, and Rose could be that piece. Pairing him alongside Zach LaVine would create a monstrous backcourt that could be a nightmarish matchup for opposing teams, while simultaneously boosting the play of that supporting cast.

With rumblings that LaVine and Markkanen have potentially grown unhappy in Chicago, this organization needs to turn things around quickly. Rose would likely not be the savior that leads that back to the promised land, but he would certainly help in revamping the franchise.

Former Chicago Bull and teammate Nate Robinson would also love to see D-Rose back with the team, and believes the 2011 MVP would be interested. Robinson told Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson of Heavy:

"“It was just fun to watch his career develop like it did. I know that he would love to come back home in front of his home crowd and ball out again and be a Chicago Bull. I would DEFINITELY pay to watch him in Chicago.”"

The reunion would make sense for both sides, but when is the most significant question mark. Rose is currently under contract with the Detroit Pistons for one more season, but Andy Bailey of Bleacher Report recently proposed a trade that could send the guard back home this offseason.

In the hypothetical trade, the Bulls would send Otto Porter Jr. and Thaddeus Young to the Pistons in exchange for Derrick Rose and Blake Griffin. While some may scoff at that idea because of Griffin’s massive contract over the next two seasons, waiting until Rose hits free agency in 2021 might not be a bad option either.

Earlier this year, when Rose was asked by 670 The Score about a potential return to the Bulls, he responded with, “I’m open to anything after that year’s up,” referring to his contract next season. While that may not have been the most enthusiastic response, Rose has always hinted at his desire to someday return to Chicago and put that uniform on once again.

Derrick Rose may not be the MVP that he once was, but despite the injuries, the way the guard has rejuvenated his career is astonishing. As his story continues, there may not be a better storybook ending than the hometown kid returning to his city and potentially reigniting the franchise.