The Chicago Bulls beat the defending Eastern Conference champions Cleveland Cavaliers, 97-95, to open their 2015-2016 season campaign on a high note with many thanks to its main man, Derrick Rose, wearing a protective face mask pretty much like a superhero. With all that he has done for the team, rumors are still swirling of his impending departure in 2017 when he becomes a free agent.
The speculations began during one of his interviews last month. According to CBS Sports, a reporter asked him "how much a sexual assault civil lawsuit filed against him in California by an ex-girlfriend" affected his training and mindset coming into the new season.
Rose, the seven-year pro and 2011 NBA MVP, answered in terms of his future free agency and the possibility of leaving the Bulls to become more "financially stable" for his family, particularly for his son, P.J.
"My mindset was just making sure that I was working out every day, and spending as much time as possible with my son (P.J.). And focusing on those two things," he said. "Making sure my family is financially stable, as far as seeing all the money that they're passing out in this league. Just telling the truth. Just knowing that my day will be coming up soon, and it's not for me. It's for P.J. and his future, so that's what I'm thinking about right now: 'I'm preparing for it.'"
However, the three-time All-Star did say after that he would still want "his future to be in Chicago", it is just that he wanted to have his "fair share of cash" when the league's salary cap rises next year.
A fan-made blog post at Sportsblog speculated that his potential landing spots in the summer of 2017 could be the Sixers, Knicks, or Lakers, all of whom can pay him the salary that he wanted and more.
While it is still too early to assume whether Rose will leave Chicago or not, or whether the Bulls will ever be ready to give him up to another team, he will only be 28 years old by the time his contract expires.
If Rose will be able to keep himself healthy in the next two seasons, then there is a high probability of him getting the money that he wants in whichever team he decides to play with.