"Derrick is ahead of schedule," Cole said in a phone conversation Wednesday night. "This was part of the plan established before surgery. This was not a consultation with another physician, but rather it's working with another therapist in collaboration with the Bulls' training staff."

Cole also brushed aside speculation that Rose has had a setback in the process.

"Nothing could be further from the truth," Cole said. "He's ahead of schedule. [The rehab] is a way to keep things fresh for Derrick, to help give him some variety."

It wouldn't shock me if if Rose has a quick recovery. He's an amazing athletic specimen, great work ethic, young, and there are medical advances. Adrian Peterson seems to be returning from his ACL tear pretty well, he's apparently already back to his old speed.

I can see Rose back in January.

That AP stuff is certainly interesting.

I can think of several reasons why the Bulls would want to trot Derrick out there as soon as possible, but I keep hearing that they'll play it conservatively.

But he also took a visit to Dr. James ANdrews, which points in the opposite direction.

The article in the OP says that he isn't seeing Andrews himself, that he's ahead of schedule and they sent him to a different therapist as a change of pace since he gets a sort of cabin fever in Chicago all the time. Could be a smoke screen, but I don't see the motivation in falsely building expectations to only be proven wrong later.

There's a pretty clear motivation...if you can make teams think rose will be back next year, then the Bulls look less desperate to remove expensive players once trades are possible. Thus, if someone wants Deng, they have to give up something useful to get him, because the team keeps telling everyone Rose will be back and they'll gun for the title.

That's a good point. I'm not sure what to think really. The recovery for ACL tears is pretty straightforward, you really don't hear about guys being unable to come back anymore. Perhaps he isn't ahead of schedule, but it probably doesn't matter. I hope they don't conceal TOO much, it will alienate fans that are already hurt by the Rose injury and the playoff disappointment.

Just forget about Rose next year. Even if he is playing, he won't be Derrick Rose.

This is the Chicago Bulls we're talking about. They sold out the biggest stadium in the league when the team was winning 20 games a season.