Hawks show the way for Rose, Bulls
The Blackhawks provided a pretty decent blueprint for the Bulls on Tuesday.
The Hawks signed free-agent defenseman Brian Campbell, and you have to think he came here because the Hawks are relevant again.
Why are they? Because Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews became the foun dation for a winning hockey team.
Free-agent athletes might prefer money over winning, but the best can command both.
Campbell likely saw himself as a key piece on a potential Stanley Cup champion.
Now all the Bulls can do is hope Derrick Rose becomes their Kane/Toews. More specific, it would be terrific if he plays well enough to prompt a premier free agent to join him on the Bulls.
"My favorite cities" LeBron James responded to Newsday the other day, "are New York; Washington, D.C.; Dallas, Texas; Los Angeles, Calif.; and Akron, Ohio."
What, Chicago didn't make the Top Five? King James would rather go back home to Akron/Cleveland than come here?
My research, along with the Campbell signing, indicates pizza and hot dogs maintain Chicago as a world-class city.
Oprah is still here. Michael Jordan is here sometimes. The only coach known as Da Coach is here. The only mayor known as Da Mayor is here. The next president of the United States might be Da Prez from the Sout' Side.
But Chicago isn't good enough for LeBron James? The man likes Dallas better? Sheesh, why doesn't he add Paducah and Podunk to his list?
Anyway, James is at the head of a potentially gaudy 2010 NBA free-agent class. Myriad teams are angling to bid for the possible likes of him, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh.
A couple of days before last week's draft I asked general manager John Paxson whether the Bulls were in position to position themselves for the 2010 free agents.
"With the salary cap, you mean?" he asked.
Yes, of course I mean financially. And mentally. And every other way. Paxson had other issues on his desk at the time and never quite addressed the question.
So I'll ask you: Is it better to maximize Rose by surrounding him piece by piece or by pursuing that one boffo piece two years from now?
New Yorkers decided. They're already asking James what his favorite borough is. Newsday quoted him as saying, "Brooklyn."
The Nets are trying to relocate there, which appeals to James. He also enjoys Madison Square Garden, the Knicks' big stage.
Here, Wade is more realistic. He allegedly would like to come home to play in the United Center, but Newsday quoted him as saying, "That's a ways away."
Now, then, whenever . . . it's difficult to envision Wade, James or any top free agent considering Chicago unless he was the final piece of a team. Not any more than Campbell would have if the Hawks weren't headed in that direction.
As the franchise's fresh-faced centerpiece, Rose is charged with making the Bulls relevant. A point guard who can get the ball where it needs to be is very appealing to a scorer.
If Derrick Rose can do that, maybe the Bulls will be appealing to 2010 free-agents.
You know, just as the Blackhawks were to this year's.
mimrem@dailyherald.com