Derrick Rose ready for Team USA

Chicago Bulls guard Derrick Rose could be on the court this summer for Team USA.

Rose told the Chicago Tribune he would be ready to play if the regular season began now, fully recovered from his second season-ending knee surgery in two years.

Coach Mike Krzyzewski said Rose is expected to be at the start of training workouts for the FIBA World Cup in July, but added that the only way to make the final roster is by being fully healthy. Several players, including Los Angeles Clippers forward Blake Griffin, had minor injuries during workouts in Las Vegas last year.

"He can't make the team unless he's ready to go full bore," Krzyzewski said. "And knowing Derrick I would think he'll be ready, and hopefully he'll be 100 percent."

Rose, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2008 NBA Draft and league MVP in 2011, signed a five-year, $94.8 million deal in 2011 but played a combined 49 games the past two seasons because of knee injuries.

The Bulls expect to be in the market for another superstar in July. Unloading the remainder of power forward Carlos Boozer's contract using the amnesty provision and another minor move or two would provide general manager Gar Forman with the flexibility to pursue potential free agents such as Carmelo Anthony or LeBron James, who have early termination options in their contracts.

Kevin Love, an All-Star power forward for the Minnesota Timberwolves entering the final year of his deal, is also considered a Chicago target.

Anthony is widely expected to have the Bulls on his radar. During the regular season, reports indicated he was fishing for information about players' opinions of Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau. The two have a professional awareness from Olympic and Team USA competition, where Thibodeau serves as an assistant to Krzyzewski.

James isn't a home run to opt out of the final year of his contract with the Miami Heat, which pays $20.56 million in 2014-15. He visited with Thibodeau, president John Paxson in the Bulls during his free agency tour in 2010 that eventually led him to join the Heat. - Reuters