Category: Chicago Bulls Blog

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Derrick Rose sits out USA vs Dominican Republic exhibition game

Here’s ESPN.com reporting on Team USA:

derrick rose

Chicago Bulls star Derrick Rose was a last-minute scratch Wednesday night from Team USA’s exhibition game against the Dominican Republic at Madison Square Garden.

Rose was scheduled to play Wednesday despite sitting out practices Monday and Tuesday to rest his sore knees after making his return to a game for the first time in eight months Saturday night in an exhibition victory over Brazil in Chicago.

One source familiar with Team USA’s plans told ESPN.com that Team USA coach Mike Krzyzewski decided to hold Rose out of the Dominican Republic game to make more minutes available for players vying for one of the squad’s last few roster spots as final cuts approach.

Rose participated in shootaround Wednesday morning and, according to one source present, moved “well” throughout the session after sitting out the last two practices.

Fort Wayne Mad Ants holding open tryouts

Dream of playing in the NBA? Realize that dream won’t come true? How about another dream that still probably won’t come true but is at least slightly more realistic?

The Fort Wayne Mad Ants announced today that they will hold open tryouts on September 14th in Chicago, Illinois for the 2014-15 NBA Development League season. The open tryout in Chicago will be the second of several tryouts held by the Mad Ants across the country leading up to the 2014-15 season.

The Chicago tryout will take place on Sunday, September 14th from 2:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. at the Quest Multisport Complex located at 2641 West Harrison Street, Chicago, Illinois 60612. Check-in begins at 1:00 p.m. and the tryout will begin at 2:00 p.m.

The Mad Ants local player tryouts offer athletes an opportunity to showcase their talents in front of the Fort Wayne Mad Ants’ coaching staff. Players will compete to earn an invitation to the team’s training camp, which will begin in early November.

Players who are interested in trying out for the Mad Ants in Chicago should submit the official registration and release forms, in addition to a $150 non-refundable fee to the Mad Ants office. Late registration is $200 for all forms received after Thursday, September 11th. Payments must be made by money order or cashier’s check. Application forms are available on the Mad Ants’ website at www.fortwaynehoops.com.

Derrick Rose says he has faith, not fear

Here’s the Chicago Sun-Times reporting on Bulls point guard Derrick Rose, who is currently in training camp with Team USA as they prepare for the FIBA World Cup tournament, which begins August 30:

Derrick Rose says he does not fear additional injury

After all, two season-ending knee surgeries for Rose since the 2012 postseason, as well as being on the court when Paul George went down with a horrific leg injury in Vegas, would be a spooky reminder for most players.

“No, I have no fears. I have faith,’’ Rose said defiantly, when asked about his own basketball mortality. “I know that I’m going to be fine. I know that I busted my ass the entire two summers. You can say two seasons to get back to where I am right now. And just try and keep it moving, stay positive every day, do everything consistent like I’ve been doing.’’

What he’s been doing has been an eye-opener for the Bulls, as well as Team USA, as the 2011 MVP continued to look like the guy who carried a franchise before his knees betrayed him.

“Every time I step on the floor it’s something to prove,’’ Rose said. “I have my own little goals in my head, I have my own little things that motivate me in my head that I keep to myself. But every time I step on the floor I try to produce.’’

Joakim Noah should OK for training camp

Here’s ESPN Chicago reporting good news for the Bulls:

Chicago Bulls center Joakim Noah says he will be “ready” for training camp as he continues rehabbing from arthroscopic left knee surgery.

“I feel pretty good,” Noah told ESPNChicago.com on Sunday during a promotional event for Adidas. “Obviously I have a ways to go, but I’m excited. When I see what our team looks like, I think that Gar [Forman] and Pax [John Paxon] put together a very solid team and I’m really excited about next year.”

Noah was hobbled throughout the postseason after a season in which he earned the NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year award. The knee injury came at the end of a long season in which he was also voted to the first team All-NBA squad at center. Noah spent some time Sunday being part of a few laid back 3-on-3 games set up by the sneaker company as part of the launch of its “boost” campaign.

Derrick Rose ready for USA Basketball

Remember Bulls guard Derrick Rose? He was awesome for a while, and won league MVP at a young age. And then has mostly been injured. But is set to return, on the international stage this offseason. The Chicago Tribune reports:

Derrick Rose ready for USA Basketball

Everyone associated with Derrick Rose’s second straight serious knee rehabilitation has said the process has gone smoothly.

Now, it’s finally time to publicly see the results.

Rose on Monday will be one of 19 players at USA Basketball’s five-day minicamp in Las Vegas. The week begins the process that will include a three-day August stint in Chicago and culminate with a 12-man roster traveling to Spain for the FIBA Basketball World Cup from late August to mid-September.

Rose hasn’t answered questions about his basketball performance since scoring 19 points in 33 minutes during a Bulls’ loss at Denver last Nov. 21.

Bulls sign Doug McDermott

The Chicago Bulls announced today the signing of forward Doug McDermott.

“We’re very excited about the addition of Doug. We love the versatility of his game and his ability to shoot,” said Chicago Bulls General Manager Gar Forman. “He’s a fit for our team and organization on many different levels.”

The 22-year old McDermott enjoyed a standout collegiate career at Creighton that culminated with his selection as the consensus National Player of the Year in 2014. As a senior, the 6-8 forward led the nation in scoring at a clip of 26.7 ppg (.550 from the field, .449 from downtown, .861 from the line) and posted 7.5 rpg and 1.3 apg in 33.7 mpg. He left Omaha as one of eight players in NCAA history to score more than 3,000 points (ranking fifth in Division I history with 3,150) and he is one of just three players to surpass 3,000 points and 1,000 rebounds in a career. He is also one of just 11 players to earn First Team AP All-America three straight seasons.

McDermott most recently played with Chicago’s summer league team in the Samsung NBA Summer League in Las Vegas. He earned Samsung All-NBA Summer League First Team honors, as he averaged 18.0 ppg (.442 from the floor, .444 from behind the arc and .957 from the line), 4.0 rpg, 2.8 apg, 0.80 bpg and 28.8 mpg in four games with the Bulls.

The Bulls acquired McDermott, the 11th overall selection in this year’s Draft, along with Anthony Randolph, in a draft-night deal with the Denver Nuggets that saw Denver receive Chicago’s 16th and 19th selections and the lesser of the Bulls’ two second-round picks (Chicago’s and Portland’s) in 2015.

Chicago Bulls sign Aaron Brooks

Chicago Bulls sign Aaron Brooks

The Chicago Bulls announced today the team has signed free agent guard Aaron Brooks.

“We’re excited to add a player as experienced and talented as Aaron to our group,” said Chicago Bulls General Manager Gar Forman.

Brooks (6-0, 161), a six-year NBA veteran, comes to the Bulls after spending last season with both the Houston Rockets and Denver Nuggets. Drafted out of Oregon in the first round of the 2007 NBA Draft (26th overall) by the Houston Rockets, Brooks has held stints with the Rockets (2007-11, 2012-13, 2013-14), Phoenix Suns (2010-11), Sacramento Kings (2012-13) and the Denver Nuggets (2013-14).

Last season with the Rockets and Nuggets, Brooks appeared in 72 games (12 starts) and averaged 9.0 ppg, 3.2 apg and 1.9 rpg in 21.6 mpg. He shot .401 from the field, .387 from downtown and .874 from the line.

A native of Seattle, the 29-year old Brooks has played in 397 regular season games (161 starts) and posted averages of 11.1 ppg, 3.4 apg, 1.8 rpg, 0.61 spg, 23.6 mpg, .413 field goal shooting, .368 three-point shooting and .847 from the line. During the 2009-10 campaign with the Rockets, he posted career highs in points per game (19.6), assists per game (5.3), rebounds per game (2.6), steals per game (0.84), three-point field goal percentage (.398) and games played (82) en route to being named the NBA’s Most Improved Player. In 25 playoff appearances, he has averaged 10.9 ppg, 2.3 apg, 2.0 rpg, 22.4 mpg, shot .428 from the field, .337 from downtown and .790 from the line.

Chicago Bulls sign second round draft pick Cameron Bairstow

Chicago Bulls sign second round draft pick Cameron Bairstow

The Chicago Bulls announced today the signing of 2014 second round draft pick Cameron Bairstow. Chicago selected Bairstow (BARE-stow) with the 49th overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft.

“We like Cameron’s combination as a player with his size, energy and physicality,” said Chicago Bulls General Manager Gar Forman. “He is a hard worker who will only get better with time.”

A native of Brisbane, Australia, Bairstow is a 6-9, 250-pound forward who played four seasons at the University of New Mexico. In 134 games with the Lobos, he posted 9.2 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 0.8 apg and 0.74 bpg in 20.8 mpg. For his collegiate career, he also shot .517 from the field and .717 from the line.