Are The Sacramento Kings a Possible Destination For Derrick Rose?
There has been discussion over the last couple of days that the Chicago Bulls could be looking to move Derrick Rose sometime this offseason.
The Bulls, in recent weeks, have also entertained the idea of trading Jimmy Butler; which could suggest the Bulls are looking to shake things up a bit after the disappointment of this season.
Steve Kyler, of Basketball Insiders, first reported that the Bulls could be interested in moving Derrick Rose:
"“League sources in Italy say the Bulls are actively open to moving guard Derrick Rose and that seems to be the first choice rather than shopping Butler”."
Rose is in the final year of his $21.3 million dollar contract; so he is definitely a candidate to be moved either this offseason or at the deadline. However, the Bulls may get better value if they decide to move Rose sooner rather than later.
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Last season, Rose played in 66 games while averaging 16.4 points, 4.7 assists, and 3.4 rebounds; he also shot 42.7% from the field and 29.3% from the perimeter.
Rose showed flashes last season of the same Derrick Rose that won the MVP award back in the 2010-2011 season. The explosive drives to the rim, elusive finishes, and a deadly mid-range game was certainly on display in patches, which is a good sign for Rose moving forward.
The Kings could be in the market for a point guard this offseason as Rajon Rondo is currently set to be an unrestricted free agent and Darren Collison has found himself in deep water after being charged with domestic violence. The point guard position is certainly wide open.
If the Kings miss out on a player like Kris Dunn in the draft, they may have to look elsewhere for a Rondo/Collison replacement, and the Bulls may be open for business.
At the moment it is hard to determine just how much trade value Derrick Rose has, and how much a team will need to give up in order to interest the Bulls; again his contract certainly makes it that much more difficult.
Kevin Anderson of Comcast SportsNet Chicago first proposed the idea of a potential Rose-to-Kings deal. He suggested that a possible deal would involve Derrick Rose for Ben McLemore and the Kings 8th pick in the draft. However, due to Rose’s large contract, a deal such as this one might not be able to work.
This proposal, however, does give an indication as to how much value a Chicago sports analyst has placed on Derrick Rose; and it doesn’t seem like it’s too much.
The Kings and Bulls do have a history in discussing potential deals. At the trade deadline last season, reports surfaced that the Kings and Bulls were close to a deal involving Pau Gasol, a deal that the Bulls eventually decided to decline.
A deal that could potentially work for the Kings and the Bulls involves Rudy Gay and Marco Bellineli for Derrick Rose; a deal that works on ESPN’s Trade Machine.
Are the Kings giving up too much? It would seem so as Rudy Gay still has two years left on his contract and may hold more value than Rose. The Bulls may have to throw in some sweeteners for the Kings to be willing to accept such a deal.
Next: Opinion: Possible Trade For Jimmy Butler?
Derrick Rose may end up staying put in Chicago next season, but if things don’t go the Kings way in the draft or free agency, the Kings could certainly give the Bulls a call about Rose, as the Bulls are reportedly willing to listen.
On the surface, it seems like a long-shot that the former MVP ends up on the Kings, but it is the Sacramento Kings we are talking about. So who knows what could eventuate over the summer, and beyond.