John Lucas III insists he is prepared to start a new chapter in his basketball career with the Raptors after reaching a difficult decision to leave the Chicago Bulls. But Lucas also acknowledges the aspect he will miss most about being with the Bulls are his former teammates, including former locker room neighbor Derrick Rose.

Lucas has communicated, either through phone call or text message, with Rose every other day this summer and headed out to Los Angeles on Sunday night to visit him at his offseason training base. While Rose will miss significant portion of the 12-13 season as he rehabilitates from a torn ACL, Lucas made it clear that his good friend will undoubtedly return to the stature that has placed him among the best in the NBA.

“His spirits are good,” Lucas told RealGM in a phone interview on Sunday. “He’s going to come back just like he was before he [got injured]. He’s getting healthier, staying in shape with his rehab.

“I’m excited about (Rose) getting healthy more than anything. The basketball part is always going to be there; it’s just about him getting healthy now.”