Derrick Rose is a star

Chicago Bulls point guard Derrick Rose already looks like a star. He’s exceeding even the highest expectations anyone could have set for him and if early season performances are any indication Rose could wind up in the same sentence as young PG stars Chris Paul and Deron Williams in the future. Here’s the Chicago Tribune (K.C. Johnson):

If Rose can maintain his averages of 18.9 points, 5.6 assists and 5.0 rebounds, he would join Oscar Robertson, Michael Jordan, LeBron James, Grant Hill, Alvan Adams, Steve Francis and Magic Johnson as the only rookies to average 18, 5 and 5. Rose’s prodigious talent and unique rookie consistency are a big reason the Bulls (5-5) are off to just their third .500-or-better start after 10 games since Jordan left town. To hear Rose tell it, Vinny Del Negro deserves credit as well. “He’s always talking to me and making sure I understand the different situations I’m seeing,” Rose said. “It feels good knowing that he has my back. He and my teammates are always helping me, teaching me stuff. They’re like my big brothers.”

Rose’s emergence makes it even more obvious that the Bulls may someday trade Kirk Hinrich, who is talented but not quite living up to his contract and doesn’t have the potential Rose appears to have.