Derrick Rose Projected To Place Third in MVP Voting; Chicago Bulls To Finish with 54 Wins Next Season

Chicago Bulls point guard Derrick Rose is expected to be among the favorites along with LeBron James and Kevin Durant for the Most Valuable Player award next season, according to ESPN's summer prediction.

The 25-year old Rose is preparing for another comeback after last season return from an ACL injury was derailed after suffering a torn MCL in his right knee. But despite undergoing two major knee surgeries, many analysts still picked the Chicago native to place behind LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers and Kevin Durant of Oklahoma City Thunder in MVP voting next season.

From the panelist of ESPN writers and hoops experts, Rose garnered 21 votes to check in at no.3 in the projected MVP voting. Still, like what happened these past three seasons, the MVP race is predicted to be another head-to-head battle between James and Durant.

Rose, who won his first MVP award in 2011, is all set to play with the undermanned Team USA in the upcoming World Championship. With the injury of Paul George and the shocking withdrawal of Kevin Durant, the Americans will be leaning on their new leader in Rose in the quadrennial basketball competition.

This is my chance to become a better leader," Rose told the Chicago Tribune ahead of Saturday's exhibition with Brazil at the United Center. "I've become more vocal in the locker room, I've been more vocal on the floor. It's going to help me become a leader with the Bulls next season."

Rose also believed that Durant's absence will surely hurt Team USA chemistry, yet he believed that there's going to be other players who will step up their game and become a major contributor for the team in the tournament.

"It hurts when you lose a player like Kevin Durant because of how gifted he is offensively," Rose added. "(But) you have guys who work their butts off the entire offseason to show people they deserve to get looked at, too."

Meanwhile, ESPN also unveiled its projections for the Eastern Conference, putting the Chicago Bulls at no.2 with a 54-28 record behind the reloaded Cleveland Cavaliers with a 56-26 slate.

The Bulls made a decent offseason splash this year with the acquisition of Pau Gasol, Nicolas Mirotic, Aaron Brooks and the drafting of Doug McDermott. Reigning Defensive Player of the Year Joakim Noah is also expected to have a strong year, while Taj Gibson, Jimmy Butler, Kirk Hinrich and Tony Snell will provide depth for the East powerhouse.