NBA Rumors: Will Derrick Rose's Max Contract Eventually Hinder Chicago Bulls?

The debate is over, Derrick Rose is officially an elite player. I know this because it's sort of officially defined in the new CBA and it was specifically defined because of Derrick Rose.

When there's a rule that has your name on it to define an elite player, you're an elite player. 

The rule in question here is called the "Derrick Rose Rule" and this is specifically what it says:

"

Rules governing maximum individual salaries for new contracts are the same as under the 2005 CBA, except that any player in his 5th year (e.g., following his rookie scale contract) is eligible to receive from his own team a maximum salary contract that provides for a starting salary of up to 30 percent of the Salary Cap, provided he has met one of the following criteria: (i) named to the All-NBA first, second, or third team two times, (ii) voted in as an All-Star starter two times, or (iii) named NBA MVP one time. A 30% max contract cannot be signed as part of a sign-and-trade transaction.

"

So what does that mean to the Bulls and Derrick Rose? Well, it means about $3 million a year more than it would have before. 

So there are two questions that need to be addressed here: Is Rose worth the extra money and what does that mean to the rest of the team?

On the first question, as to whether Rose is worth it, we'll streamline this discussion. 

Yes. 

Having given that particular discussion all that it merits, let's move on to how it will effect the rest of the team.

There are a couple of things that could give the Bulls some reprieve. For starters, everyone is assuming—and that's based in large part on the repeated affirmations of the front office—that the Bulls will be doing something to add a shooting guard this offseason. More than likely, that will mean a mid-level exception. 

That's going to bump the max deal that Rose can get to $17.4 million next year. Including whatever the Bulls use this year, they'll still be in position to do one of three things next year after they sign Rose. 

Either they will:

1. Go into the luxury tax, which they've never done, but owner Jerry Reinsdorf has said he would do to preserve a championship-level team.
2. Amnesty Kyle Korver.
3. Fail to match a contract on then restricted free agent Omer Asik. 

If they do go over the luxury tax, it would only be one or two million, depending on what they do with their rookies next year. 

There has been a kind of doom and gloom around the Bulls that losing Asik or Taj Gibson is a foregone conclusion and this does put a bit more of a cloud on that. However, it's not impossible to keep both, they just might have to let Korver go.

However, if they use the the mid-level exception to sign a shooting guard who can shoot and guard, they don't need him. So I don't see this hindering the Bulls. In fact, the last part of that clause is very intriguing. 

"A 30% max contract cannot be signed as part of a sign-and-trade transaction."

In other words, the Bulls can offer Rose about $3 million more than anyone else can. The clause both assures the Bulls of keeping him, and Rose of getting paid what he deserves.