Rose shouldn't play on U.S. national team
Certainly, USA Basketball made a nice gesture by keeping Derrick Rose in its thoughts and on its roster.
Rose was one of 28 players named Thursday to the U.S. national team for this year's World Championships and the 2016 Olympics. The final rosters will be determined later and new players could be added, so this announcement doesn't have much concrete value.
Tom Thibodeau will serve as an assistant coach during this next cycle of events, working with returning head coach Mike Krzyzewski of Duke.
“I'm looking forward to getting back on the court this summer and having the chance to represent our country,” Rose said in a statement. “It's an honor to play for Team USA and Coach K.”
Now that USA Basketball made a thoughtful offer and Rose responded with a polite thank you, hopefully his patriotic duties are over.
After playing 10 games for the Bulls over two seasons, Rose shouldn't even think about joining Team USA this summer.
Don't practice. Don't play.
He could pop in on Thibodeau once or twice at practice if he really wants to feel part of it.
If Rose is healthy enough to play again before the end of the season, then maybe it's a different story. But if he needs more time to recover from right knee surgery, then his only priority during the summer is getting well and figuring out how to stay healthy through an NBA season.
Asked Wednesday about Rose playing for Team USA, Thibodeau gave an optimistic response, but maybe he was just being nice.
“Well, I'm hopeful that he will participate and he'll be selected, but a lot depends on where his health is,” Thibodeau said, according to csnchicago.com. “But I thought it was a great experience for him in the past. I know how much he enjoyed it.
“I know how USA Basketball feels about him. I think it's a great honor and a privilege, and hopefully it'll work out.”
Maybe in 2016 it could work out. Not this year.
Speaking of hopeful, FIBA changed the name from World Championships to World Cup, hoping people might actually pay attention to the event, but it probably won't make much of a difference. American basketball fans only seem to get worked up over the Olympics.
Team USA might have a tough time winning the World Cup on the home soil of its top competition, Spain. But Rose's participation isn't going to put the U.S. over the top.
There's a chance playing for the U.S. National team would help Rose's recovery. There's also a chance he could get hurt.
So why bother?
Playing for the Bulls is his No. 1 job.
Thibodeau made another comment that seemed to echo that belief.
“He's shooting now, so he's coming along fine,” he said. “His spirit's strong. He had two workouts (Wednesday), but he still has a long way to go. It's important for him to go step by step, be patient and just regain his health.”
Krzyzewski acknowledged Thursday that some big names on the roster — LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony and Chris Paul — will not play on the World Cup team. Kobe Bryant and Dwyane Wade have essentially retired from national team competition.
Rose played on Team USA in 2010, helping win the World Championships in Turkey. Kevin Durant was the star of that team, but Rose made something of a breakthrough by beating out Boston's Rajon Rondo for one of the point guard spots.
Then came the MVP season, 62 wins and a surgery for each knee.
Besides Rose and Durant, others from the 2010 squad included on the new list are Stephen Curry, Andre Iguodala, Tyson Chandler, Kevin Love and another injured point guard, Russell Westbrook.
This year's World Cup roster is likely to include Durant, if he's interested; Love, Curry, Blake Griffin, James Harden, Anthony Davis, Damien Lillard, LaMarcus Aldridge, Paul George, Kyrie Irving and maybe Dwight Howard.
Other candidates are former Bulls sharpshooter Kyle Korver, Washington's Bradley Beal, Detroit's Andre Drummond, Sacramento's DeMarcus Cousins, Brooklyn's Deron Williams, San Antonio's Kawhi Leonard, Utah's Gordon Hayward, Denver's Kenneth Faried, along with David Lee and Klay Thompson from Golden State.
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