It seems like a lifetime ago that Derrick Rose was the MVP of the National Basketball Association. However, while names like Kevin Durant is winning NBA titles and Steph Curry and James Harden are signing monster contracts, Rose is a free agent who is just trying to find a team that can use someone of his skills. It looks like that team might be the Milwaukee Bucks and Rose will meet with the Bucks for a second time this weekend to discuss joining their franchise.
The fall of Derrick Rose
At one time, Derrick Rose was one of the best players in the NBA.
He won the NBA MVP award with the Chicago Bulls and the city expected him to lead them back to their championship ways. However, one season after a career-high 25 points, 7,7 assists, and 4.1 rebounds a game, an injury pretty much killed the promise that he held.
Derrick Rose played only 39 games in the 2011-12 season and 10 the next year. He was working his way back in 2014 but never regained the playing level that made him a superstar and the Chicago Bulls finally gave up on him in 2016.
Hoping to push for a championship in one of the biggest markets in the NBA, Derrick Rose signed with the New York Knicks and joined Carmelo Anthony. The two of them did nothing to help the Knicks, who finished the season with a 31-51 record.
Rose only averaged 18 points, 4.4 assists, and 3.8 rebounds a game and he left the team after just one season. Now, Derrick Rose is looking for a new start in the NBA, somewhere he can fit in despite no longer being a superstar in his own right.
The Milwaukee Bucks
It looks like that team might be the Milwaukee Bucks. Derrick Rose met with the team once already and the meeting this weekend will be their second meeting.
At one time a high-paid superstar, Derrick will likely join the team on a small contract, a $5.2 million mid-level exception.
However, the Milwaukee Bucks will have to shed a contract to fit Rose in since they are $1.6 million over the tax. To do so, they will probably trade center John Henson. In his five seasons with the Bucks, Henson has only averaged 7.7 points-per-game and both sides are ready to move on.
Henson has three years and $32 million left on his deal.
If the Milwaukee Bucks are able to sign Derrick Rose, he will join a strong young team that made the postseason last season with a 42-40 record. Rose could be a solid veteran presence to NBA Rookie of the Year Malcolm Brogdon, fourth-year player Giannis Antetokounmpo, and fifth-year guard Khris Middleton.
