The Chicago Bulls have labeled All-Star guard Derrick Rose as the only untouchable as they desperately seek to improve their roster and compete in the Eastern Conference.
The Chicago Sun-Times reported management is convinced the team is just a "reliable second-scoring option" away from contending for an NBA title and are ready to go all in to acquire such a piece.
Derrick Rose to play for Team USA this summer?
The Bulls are considered one of the favorites to land Knicks high-scoring forward Carmelo Anthony in free-agency and are also rumored to be in play for disgruntled Minnesota Timberwolves forward Kevin Love, both of whom would greatly upgrade the team's frontcourt and add another proven scorer to play alongside Derrick Rose.
"They are looking to exhaust as many assets as it will take,'' a source told the Sun-Times, adding that the team may even chase LeBron James if he elects to opt out of his deal in Miami.
Russell Westbrook predicts Derrick Rose will bounce back
Led by Defensive Player of the Year Joakim Noah and the emerging star Taj Gibson, the Bulls won 48games this season despite being without Rose again for most of the year. The former league MVP played in just 10 games before suffering his second straight season-ending knee injury.
Coach Tom Thibodeau relied heavily on his defense in leading a team that also lost veteran forward Luol Deng at the trade deadline and was without a bonafide top scorer for most of the season.
The 25-year-old Rose is expected back next season, bolstering the Bulls' belief that they are on the cusp of competing for their first NBA title since the days of Michael Jordan.
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