Rose Says New York Will ‘Appreciate' Him More Than Chicago

Point guard Derrick Rose said hello to the media in New York on Friday following his trade from the Chicago Bulls, and while he wasn’t overtly hostile, there did seem to be some hard feelings for the former MVP.

“I don’t know why I was traded, but I would like to tell them thank you,” Rose told reporters, adding, “I’m grateful to be here. I feel like they’re going to appreciate me a little bit more.”

Rose was traded by the Bulls Wednesday after spending the first eight years of his career with his hometown team. The number one overall pick in the 2008 NBA Draft, who grew up in Chicago and played his high school ball at Simeon, was sent to the Knicks in exchange for three players.

In the press conference, Rose said that he is looking forward to being able to focus on basketball, and he feels that he has a unique opportunity to help the Knicks win.

“The last time I had this much time to focus on basketball was the year I won MVP,” he said. “I feel like something special is going to happen. I don’t know what, but I feel like (it will be) something special.”

“I just want to win man. That’s the only thing I want to do,” he added.

Despite his excitement to play in New York and to re-focus his attention on basketball, Rose did insist, in an open letter written for The Cycle on Friday, that he doesn’t hold a grudge against the Bulls.

“I understand that this is a business and the Bulls have their plans, their own ideas with what direction they want to go with the team, but I’m gonna use this as motivation,” he wrote. “I was with them for eight years and they let me go. There’s no hard feelings, no grudges. They’re trying to do what’s best for the team. I totally understand that. But I don’t think I would be wrong for using this as motivation.”

If Rose is looking for more motivation, he need look no further than his bank account: he will become a free agent after the 2016-17 season, and numerous teams will likely covet the athletic point guard if he ends up hitting the market. 

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