Rose says Bulls motivated him with trade to Knicks

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One day after the Bulls continued to build for the future by drafting Denzel Valentine, it was their past that stole the headlines.

Meeting with the New York media for his introductory news conference at Madison Square Garden on Friday, Derrick Rose made sure his old organization knew that in trading him, it also motivated him.

“I would like to tell them, ‘Thank you,’ ” Rose said.

When asked to elaborate, Rose said the Bulls sent him to a market he can embrace and, more importantly, one he believes will embrace him.

“Getting me another start,” said Rose, who played seven seasons in his hometown, missing the 2012-13 season after suffering a torn left anterior cruciate ligament. “I’m grateful to be where I’m at. I could have been anywhere. Not saying all the other teams are bad places, but to be in this market, to be in the city [with] the legacy, the history of basketball, I’m grateful. I feel like they’re going to appreciate me a little bit more. It’s motivating.”

Rose also had a heartfelt answer regarding his decision to switch from jersey from No. 1 to No. 25.

“For Chicago,” he said. “They made me the man I am today, so I wanted to bring them with me.”

Rose wore No. 25 in high school to honor slain Chicago hoops star Benji Wilson.

Rose also released a letter on a website called The Cycle. In it, he went through the moments he was informed of the trade, his feelings and the reality of no longer playing where he grew up.

“The first thing I thought about was my son PJ,” Rose wrote. “It’s hard enough to find time to see him during the season even when I’m in Chicago. Now I’ll be in New York, hours away. It’s a lot of miles. I know this is part of being an NBA player, though. We’ll find a way to make it work. I owe him that.

“Chicago made me who I am. It’s tatted on my wrist. I was raised in my grandmother’s house on South Paulina Street in Englewood. Being drafted by the Bulls, becoming an All-Star and an MVP on the Bulls, helping them make the playoffs — all of that was a dream come true. I’ll never forget it. I’ve carried Chicago with me everywhere I’ve gone, from around the country to all over the world. I always will.

“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. 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.”

It already has motivated him to be a recruiter. Rose said he has talked to Joakim Noah about getting him in a Knicks uniform. Rose usually shied away from such a role with the Bulls.

“Oh, I want him,” Rose said. “He knows that I want to play with him.”

But according to the Sporting News, the Wizards are set to offer Noah a max contract that will pay him almost $120 million for the next four seasons. The Timberwolves and Bucks are also interested in Noah.

Follow me on Twitter @suntimes_hoops.

Email: jcowley@suntimes.com

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