CHICAGO – The notion of leaving Chicago and the Bulls’ organization hasn’t even crossed the minds of Derrick Rose and his family. As superstars have bolted from one team to the next in recent years, Rose’s family has a message for the people who believe the 2011 NBA MVP could be the next star to move on: We love Chicago too much to leave.

“I don’t see us leaving Chicago,” Rose’s older brother, Reggie Rose, told RealGM on Saturday afternoon during the “Peace Basketball Tournament” at St. Sabina church in Chicago. “We love this city and I just don’t see us [leaving] ever. It’s our hometown.”

While rehabbing from a torn ACL, Rose has fully supported the Bulls’ moves this summer. From players to coaches across the league, many believe the Bulls regressed during the offseason, parting ways with critical role players such as Omer Asik, Kyle Korver, C.J. Watson, Ronnie Brewer and John Lucas III. Inserted into the Bulls’ lineup have been Kirk Hinrich, Marco Belinelli and Nazr Mohammed among others.

Even so, Rose has maintained for years that he’s 100 percent behind his front office. He understands his role is to produce on the court, and he has the ultimate faith in Bulls management and its decision-making. Mostly, the hometown star has been loyal to the Bulls since the organization drafted him in 2008, while reaping rewards out of the third-largest market in the nation to grow his brand.

“He [knows] it’s a business,” Reggie said. “At the end of the day, he believes in the Bulls’ organization and he believes the moves they make are going to be the right moves. The only thing he can do as a player is go out there and do his job.”

Rose made a surprise appearance inside the St. Sabina gym on Saturday and sent the building abuzz, slowly coming out of a back door as the crowd showered him with a standing ovation that lasted about five minutes. His spirits were high – smiling, talking to kids and sitting near the front row before coaching one of the teams and leaving without speaking to the media.

For now, all Rose can do is continue to rehab his left knee in an effort to return at some point this season.

“The rehab has gone well,” Reggie said. “He’s on schedule and there haven’t been any setbacks. It’s been going well.”

Yet the Bulls have seemingly tried to temper expectations for Rose to make a comeback in 2012-13. Rose and his camp, however, have repeatedly made it clear that the calculated plan is to return this season.

“You’ve got to have a positive goal saying that Derrick is going to come back,” Reggie said. “Because if you’re saying that he’s not, then that’s negative thinking. Right now, our family always has positive thinking.

“We’re thinking positively that he’s going to come back. And he’s working as if he’s going to come back to play.”