Derrick Rose is not the typical star of today that’s buddy-buddy with the other stars. In fact there were numerous reports that Rose would not participate in the Bulls recruitment of Carmelo Anthony. That didn’t mean that Rose didn’t want Anthony in Chicago, it actually was quite the opposite. Rose wanted Anthony to join him and even went out of his usual character and made a small pitch.
Chicago was the first stop on Anthony’s free agency tour. Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau and star player Joakim Noah were very active in trying to convince Anthony to join them. There was some discrepancy as to what Rose’s involvement was, but a later report stated that Rose had a conversation with Anthony in the Bulls locker room.
While practicing with Team USA, Rose revealed what he said, c/o ProBasketballTalk:
“That if he was to come, that the game would be easy,’’ Rose said. “I don’t know how easy but of course it would be easy. And that we wanted him. Just plain and simple, we wanted him to come. He decided to go somewhere else. But it’s no hard feelings. I can’t get mad at the decision he made. He’s a grown man.’’
Rose said he was disappointed that Anthony chose to stay in New York, but he also understood — this isn’t just about what happens on the court.
“If you put yourself in that decision, that’s a hard decision,” Rose said. “You got your family to think about. You got money to think about. Not to say you should think about money. But when you’re talking about millions and millions of dollars, you can’t just put that behind you. So I’m not mad with the decision that he made and I wish him nothing but the best.’’
