Chicago Bulls point guard Derrick Rose believes that his team are a "contender" to win the Eastern Conference next season despite increased competition.
Rose is currently working with Team USA ahead of the World Cup next month, but insists that he is impressed with the moves that the organisation has made this summer.
"I think we have a contender. I wouldn't say [people] were saying put us at the top of the East or whatever, but we have a contender team. We know as a team what we were trying to do. We all have one goal," he said, ESPN reports.
The 25-year-old admitted that he was disappointed that Carmelo Anthony opted against joining the Bulls, but he is still excited about playing alongside the likes of Pau Gasol and Nikola Mirotic next season.