For the second year in a row, the NBA world is anticipating the return of its 2008 first overall draft pick Derrick Rose. The Chicago Bulls' point guard has battled serious knee injuries in each of the last two seasons that caused him to miss all but 10 games. While Joakim Noah was able to put the team on his back last year with a breakout season, Chicago was eliminated in the first round of the playoffs by the speedy Washington Wizards, led by another point guard taken first overall in John Wall. The Bulls looked very strong in the 2013-2014 regular season without Rose, but fell apart in the playoffs, only winning one game against Washington before hitting the golf course for the summer.

Now, as the NBA Summer League has settled down, the Bulls look like they are poised to be a top contender in the Eastern Conference. In the offseason they were able to dump an aging Carlos Boozer and sign Pau Gasol in addition to drafting Doug McDermott, who was one of the top performers in the Orlando Summer League. But while the team has improved around Derrick Rose, the five-year point guard is seeing red. No, his surgically repaired knees are not bleeding. And, no that is not a reference to the blood red jersey's of his hometown team. Rather, Rose is seeing red like the true Bull he is. He said his confidence is "very high" and his eagerness to return to the court has been evident. D-Rose is currently at Team USA's training camp preparing for the World Cup of Basketball which will be played in Spain at the end of August.

But after déjà vu last season with Rose's knee, Bulls fans can only be cringing at the sight of Rose in the red white and blue Team USA jersey. As encouraging as it is to see the three-time All-Star back on the court, he should know better than anyone that his knees are to be treated like China glass. After returning from a torn ACL in his left knee two seasons ago and tearing the meniscus in his right knee only seven months later, Rose would be wise to consider following the lead of fellow NBA All-Stars who withdrew from the World Cup, including Kevin Love, the injured Blake Griffin, and Russell Westbrook, who tore his meniscus roughly six months before Rose. Regardless, the Bulls play-caller remains one of five point guards on the national team. Hopefully, coach Mike Krzyzewski can manage the squad to cater to Derrick Rose's knees. Bulls head coach Tom Thibodeau would be wise to request that Coach K utilize Rose as more of a bench-warmer than prominent scorer.

Basketball players historically have some of the worst knees in all of sports and the NBA has recently seen what knee injuries can do to former first round draft picks. It was nice to see Greg Oden along for the Miami Heat's ride to the NBA Finals this season, playing seven total minutes in three games. Oden is the face of knee problems in the NBA and has barely played a season's worth of games after being drafted first overall in 2007 and subsequently sidelined for three full seasons. It is imperative that Chicago exercise extreme caution in Derrick Rose's return from his second knee surgery, similar to what the Celtics did in moderating Rajon Rondo's playing time this past season while he recovered from a torn ACL. The Bulls have proven to be able to perform without Rose and have built a strong enough supporting cast that they can afford to limit his minutes when the time comes. For now, the World Cup of Basketball approaches and Rose remains on the roster.