Derrick Rose’s story hits differently for hoop fans. When he pulled up in 2008, the Bulls were down badly, but Rose came through with insane bounce, court vision, and a killer drive. He was just electrifying, and when he grabbed Rookie of the Year, the hype was real. But it wasn’t until 2011 when he straight-up snatched the MVP—at 22, no less—that Chicago really started to feel like they had their guy, another superstar to carry the city.

That MVP run? Pure magic. The way Rose cooked defenders, blew by people with ridiculous speed and finished at the rim like it was light work had everyone thinking the Bulls were on their way back to the top. But man, when he tore his ACL in the 2012 playoffs, it hit like a gut punch. Bulls fans were crushed. Then came the 2013 meniscus injury after all that hard work to get back, and it was like the final blow.

After the Bulls traded him in 2016, it was clear Derrick Rose was never gonna be that MVP again. The flashes were still there—those quick drives and smooth finishes—but they didn’t hit like they used to. He bounced around the league with the Knicks, Timberwolves, Pistons, and Grizzlies, showing sparks of his old self, but the injuries had taken their toll. Rose managed to reinvent himself as a solid vet, earning mad respect for his grind, but it was bittersweet—everyone knew the explosive, game-changing Rose wasn’t coming back. Now, after being waived by the Grizzlies, he’s officially called it a wrap, closing the book on a career that was equal parts brilliance and heartbreak.

Given that Derrick Rose had his best years with the Bulls, it just feels right for him to hang it up in the city where he became a legend. It’d be the perfect end to his story, and every Bulls fan wants to see it. But with the team capped at 21 offseason contracts, the chances of them signing Rose to a one-day deal so he can retire as a Bull is something that we need to wait to witness.

Even though Rose has played for other teams, retiring his jersey with the Bulls would be the perfect way to wrap up his NBA story. It’d honor his legacy in the city where he became a superstar and brought so much hope and joy to the fans. But will that happen?

“no one-day ceremonial signing for now”-NBA insider regarding Rose retiring as a Bull

According to NBA insider K.C. Johnson, the Bulls are maxed out at 21 off-season contracts, so they can’t even sign Derrick Rose for a one-day deal right now. It’s a bummer for fans who wanna see him officially retire as a Bull, the place where he became a legend. But the good news is, the Bulls are still looking to honor him this season. K.C. Johnson noted, “Bulls at maximum offseason number of 21 contracts, so no one-day ceremonial signing for now. Look for Bulls to honor DRose this season. Doing so with Tom Thibodeau and Knicks in town would make sense.”

Given Rose’s strong bond with his former Bulls coach, Tom Thibodeau, who now coaches the New York Knicks, a tribute when the Knicks visit Chicago feels like the perfect moment. It would allow Rose to be celebrated not only in front of his hometown crowd but also with the coach who helped guide him to his MVP heights. But fans are definitely not feeling the idea of Rose retiring in a Knicks jersey. One fan vented, “I might be done with this franchise if they don’t retire Derrick as a Bull. I don’t care how many contracts we have currently.” Given everything Rose did for the Bulls, he’s got a special spot in the hearts of basketball fans, especially in Chicago. To not honor him by retiring his number as a Bull just feels wrong.

But nothing’s set in stone yet. Even though the Bulls are saying they’re at their offseason limit, it’s still the offseason, right? They might still pull off a special ceremony for Rose when the season kicks off. Some fans have tossed around the idea of cutting a player just to sign Rose for a one-day deal, but doesn’t that seem pretty harsh? Cutting someone just to bring Rose in for his retirement feels rough, especially when you think about the loyalty and hard work that players put in. Rose deserves all the love and respect, no doubt, but there’s gotta be a better way to celebrate his legacy without putting others in a tough spot. What are your thoughts on this?