The Chicago Bulls was once considered as a legit title contender earlier in the season with the return of franchise player Derrick Rose from a season-long hiatus following a major surgery, and after it pushed eventual champions Miami Heat to six games in the second round of the 2013 NBA Playoffs.
But Rose's return was cut back after he had another knee surgery last November 25, and now the youngest MVP in league history is anxious that his team would undergo a massive rebuilding effort which he is not interested at all.
Mitch Lawrence of NY Daily News is reporting that Rose has told several confidantes about his worries that the team will let several key players leave via free agency which could signal a rebuilding program that he does not want to be part of.
"Derrick is worried that the Bulls are going to lose what they have," said a league source to Lawrence. "He doesn't want to go through rebuilding."
The Bulls have several key personnel decisions to make next year, starting with forward Luol Deng's salary demands next summer when he hits free agency. Another forward, Carlos Boozer, is under contract for another year but the team is not expected to re-sign him. These developments could see the Bulls sliding several notches behind Eastern rivals Miami and Indiana Pacers.
The Bulls have been letting key rotation players leave via free agency in the past few years, such as Kyle Korver, Marco Bellinelli and Nate Robinson. With Rose's injury, it has lagged behind in the East with a 9-13 record.
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