Derrick Rose had a dark shadow casted over him as his summer came to an end. While the former MVP came into media day with a new hair-do, his mindset going forward appeared to also sound a little new. D.Rose is looking out for number one and his family and he’s not shy about it.
He’s slated to hit free agency in 2017 and D.Rose is no dummy. He sees all the money that NBA teams are throwing around at players with recovering injuries, like Welsey Matthews who just inked a contract over $80 million, or guys who aren’t crazy talented like Al-Farouq Aminu who inked a deal over $30 million or the negotiations going on between the Cavs and Tristan Thompson where the starting point for a new contract right now could be at $80 million. You have to think a former MVP and someone who has shown flashes of a once-lost greatness – when healthy – would look forward to getting another big payday at only age 28 going into the 2017 season.
Rose wants that money but not for himself but instead for his family and his son, P.J. You can’t blame Rose for what he wants but there might be a legal issue possibly preventing that from happening for the time-being.
The Bulls star was accused of gang raping his ex-girlfriend and since then, he’s emphatically denied the accusations on multiple occasions, most recently during Chicago Bulls media day on Monday.
Following from WGNTV in Chicago.
“I think you all saw everything that was put out … it’s not true,” Rose said, adding, “I take it as motivation.”
Added Rose: “The devil is working.”
Rose had previously denied the allegations in August, when his attorney released a statement which read, in part, “The plaintiff’s allegations are completely false and without any factual basis.”
On Monday Rose echoed this sentiment, saying, “I’m very confident that I will be proven innocent.”
And from Sean Highkin of NBC’s Pro Basketball Talk and Bleacher Report.
Rose on changing personal life in light of lawsuit: "The story is false. I don't have to change anything."
— Sean Highkin (@highkin) September 28, 2015
Rose will be an interesting case for a big payday in 2017 but with all this ridiculous money coming in, he might be able to get a raise from his $20 million salary. Yes, the former league MVP who has battled multiple injuries and has a current rape allegation issue might make more than $20 million in 2 years and it may not even be the most insane contract agreed upon from now until then.
