Point guard Derrick Rose now has a viable route back to the Chicago Bulls franchise and the city of Chicago.

Rose was notified on Saturday by the New York Knicks that his $15.6MM club option for the 2023–2024 NBA season will not be picked up by the organization. On June 30, when NBA free agency opens, Rose will be an unrestricted free agent.

The Bulls’ biggest need this summer will be at point guard because they’ve acknowledged that point guard Lonzo Ball won’t be playing basketball for the Bulls ever again—er, next season.

For this reason, Bulls supporters have not wasted any time in becoming enthused about Rose’s potential summertime comeback.

Over the previous two seasons, Rose made only 26 and 27 appearances in the Knicks’ lineup, respectively. Rose played more than 12 minutes a game on average this past season while scoring 5.6 points a game with the Knicks. Rose had the lowest player efficiency rating of his career with the Knicks last season (10.1), even though he was healthy the entire time.

The thought of Derrick Rose rejoining the Chicago Bulls is something that fans of the team are dreaming about.
Rose would only sign with the Bulls for the sole purpose of fending off criticism at this juncture in his career. Rose’s play at this stage of his career is not basketball compatible with what the team needs at point guard.

The Bulls require a point guard who can both consistently make three-pointers and function as an offensive facilitator. In his later years as an NBA veteran, Rose has not developed into that kind of point guard.

However, in light of two seasons in which it was evident that the direction was failing, the Bulls’ organization and front office have come under further scrutiny. Consequently, it is not incorrect to believe that the team pursued Rose in an attempt to deflect criticism from the front office’s failure.

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Chicago White Sox Restore Major Event at Last, Notwithstanding Possible Reaction

With the epidemic still in full force, it made sense for the Chicago White Sox to cancel SoxFest in 2021. But as the pandemic subsided and things resumed as usual, there didn’t seem to be any need to miss the event in 2022, 2023, or 2024. Additionally, White Sox supporters have been pleading with the team to resolve this issue.

I think it would have been better to have an event even if it had required masks than to have none at all.

White Sox Returning with SoxFest
The team revealed that the big fan gathering will eventually take place on January 24–25, 2025. However, there’s a fair chance that this is a calculated marketing stunt rather than a sincere gesture towards their devoted fan base.

Many fans believe that the Sox’s failure to win the World Series was partly due to Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf’s insistence on hiring his friend Tony La Russa as manager. As a result, there is a general consensus among some fans and the media that the Sox canceled Soxfest and used Covid as an excuse in 2021 and 2022 (no specific reason was given for the cancellation of 2023).

The fact that well-known TV broadcaster Jason Benetti departed to take a similar position in a lesser market with the Detroit Tigers, a division foe, has also infuriated fans. Although Benetti has attempted to clarify that he moved to Detroit because there was a better opportunity, there have been indications in media reports that the Sox were dissatisfied with Benetti’s style, as well-liked as it was, and forced him to go. Season ticket holders may question team members tonight, but the Sox won’t have to forfeit 2024 in order to make up for it.

Even after reviving the event, the Sox might still come under fire because it will commemorate the 125-year history of the team and the 20th anniversary of the 2005 World Series victors.

A pessimist would argue that the Sox will emphasize their fond recollections of the past and minimize any difficulties the once-again rebuilding 2024 club may encounter, particularly since they will most likely still be rebuilding in 2025.

That is what a cynic would say. I don’t think I’m that cynical. After all, I’m a White Sox supporter.