Just a day after Derrick Rose trade rumors suddenly cropped up, the one-time National Basketball Association (NBA) Most Valuable Player (MVP) and Chicago Bulls star guard proved his detractors wrong.
Rose exploded for a game-high 29 points, the most perhaps that he has made for quite a long spell and against a formidable team at that in the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Of course, one game will not change how critics see Rose and his future in a Bulls' uniform, but the Bulls star guard knows for a fact that such will not go away. With the geniuses going as far as creating a timeline on Rose's career, the bottom line is that most feel that Rose and Bulls will eventually end up parting ways.
For now, however, a possible scenario like that may only happen by 2017 when Rose's contract ends. Unless the Bulls find a suitable trade partner who would be willing to absorb or exchange the same sum contained in Rose's contract, the scenario of seeing Rose going this early seems a bit remote. Under his current contract, Rose will earn $20 million this year and $21 million in 2016–17.
At least for that game, Rose has proven his value to the Bulls. It was a matter of asking whether or not the Bulls could survive without Rose that sparked the nasty trade rumors yet again, but it seems that Rose could not care less about what people say for now.
Rose's overall state, especially the condition of his knees, is put into question, with many asking why he has been more cautious taking the ball and penetrating the paint.
But while his knees seem to be holding up, Rose had been hit by another injury affecting his eyesight before the regular season, but it seems that everything is settling down now.
The season is still young and trade talks are a bit premature. No matter what people think, such doesn't seem to bother Rose. In fact, the whole criticism binge seems to be motivating the former MVP more to play better.
