Derrick Rose Returning Soon? But, Joakim Noah Out? [NBA News & Rumors]

The Chicago Bulls can somehow breathe easy now with word that one of their vets may be returning to the roster soon.

Derrick Rose had been bothered by soreness in his knee and for a moment, the Bulls were distraught with the possible thought of seeing their resident star guard back in the sidelines.

After undergoing an MRI. The test showed no structural damage and that it was nothing more than soreness per ESPN. But would this clear the way for his return?

Rose will be a game-time decision for head coach Fred Hoiberg who plans to weigh in on the real state of Rose before giving him the green light to suit up.

Aside from his knee, Rose has also been hampered by tendinitis on his right hamstring which he says was a result of trying to keep up with the hectic schedule of the Bulls.

“It’s me as far as I was coming out three straight times, three straight off-days I came in and I shot instead of sitting out and getting recovery and massages and all that,’’ Rose said via the Chicago Sun-Times. “And it kind of fatigued me.

More adjustments should be forthcoming on the part of the one-time MVP though the Bulls haven’t done badly with Rose out of the lineup. The Bulls are ironically 4-1 without Rose which should be an indication that D-Rose doesn’t need to rush himself back into the lineup.

With Rose’s state considered day-to-day, the case is, unfortunately, different with Joakim Noah.

The veteran Bulls forward is still ruled out after suffering a small tear in his left shoulder which he initially suffered last month against the Brooklyn Nets.

It was initially believed that Noah would be out for just two weeks. That could, however, change depending on the daily evaluation made on the Bulls bruiser.

“If he gets his arm in a vulnerable position, it could cause some … I don’t know if damage, but he’s just not quite ready is what I’m trying to say,” adds Hoiberg also by the Chicago Sun-Times.

Right now, Jimmy Butler has picked up the slack for Rose while rookie Bobby Portis has been doing well as well filling in for Noah.

Though playing with a battered lineup, the Bulls have impressively racked up a 20-12 win-loss record in the Eastern Conference standings which places them in second place just behind the Cleveland Cavaliers who tote a leading 23-9 win-loss card.