Derrick Rose on Carmelo Anthony: ‘Of course you’re going to be kind of devastated’
Throughout the season, it was pretty clear the Chicago Bulls were going to target New York Knicks’ forward Carmelo Anthony in free agency. With an elite defense and the inability to score on a consistent basis, signing Anthony may have been the last piece to the puzzle for the Bulls. The Bulls had Anthony in for a visit where they had him watch star point guard Derrick Rose work out and meet with several players and members of the staff. However, Anthony wound up re-signing with the Knicks.
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Rose is happy with the Bulls but admitted he was “kind of devastated” Anthony didn’t sign with the Bulls.
“I always say when a player like Carmelo doesn’t sign with you, of course you’re going to be kind of devastated,” Rose told Sam Smith of Bulls.com. “But at the same time, the world (doesn’t) end and basketball (doesn’t) end just because someone doesn’t come to your team. I think (Bulls management) did a great job with pursuing Pau. And we got it done.”
Rose averaged 15.9 points, 4.3 assists and 3.2 rebounds in 31.1 minutes per game while shooting 35.4% from the field, 34.0% from beyond the arc and 84.4% from the free throw line in 10 games last season season. In his career, he has averaged 20.8 points, 6.8 assists and 3.8 rebounds per game while shooting 46.0% from the field, 31.2% from three and 81.5% from the charity stripe. Anthony put up 27.4 points, 8.1 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game and shot 45.2% from the field, 40.2% from beyond the arc and 84.8% from the free throw line last season.
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