TORONTO — Chicago Bulls point guard Derrick Rose said Wednesday he has no pain in his surgically repaired right knee and remains optimistic that he can return before the regular season ends.

Rose, who had a meniscectomy on his right knee Feb. 27, is hopeful that he can start taking contact in practice “this week or next week.”

“That would be the plan, but who knows?” Rose said before Wednesday morning’s shootaround in advance of the Bulls game against the Toronto Raptors. “Whenever I’m ready to come back, that’s when I’m going to come back.”

Rose, who tore the ACL in his left knee in April 2012 and the medial meniscus in his right knee in November 2013, is feeling good about how this particular rehab process is coming along. The Bulls announced after the latest surgery that he would be out 4-6 weeks.

While Rose has been non-committal regarding a comeback date, he says the process has been “smooth, same as the other two” and that there has been no pain or swelling in the knee.

“I don’t have it,” Rose said. “I don’t have any. So that’s a good sign. The swelling is gone. So it’s all about just getting on the court.”

Rose is hopeful that after a week or two of taking contact in practice that he could return to the floor, but he isn’t sure exactly how his body will respond. Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau said Rose has been doing everything in practice aside from taking contact and likes the way the former MVP is progressing.

“I’m feeling good,” Rose said. “I’m trying to do all the right things, put all the positives in the bag and just try to go with it. It’s something that I’ve been doing for a long time with rehab. It’s a grind — definitely a grind — but I’m getting used to it.”

Rose says he is not concerned about trying to find a rhythm before the playoffs begin. The Bulls have just 10 regular-season games remaining.

“It’s different, but I’m a pro,” Rose said of the short window. “I think I’m good enough to be able to fit my way in.”

Like many within the organization, veteran big man Pau Gasol is hopeful Rose will be able to return before the regular season ends so that he get some games under his belt.

“I think if he could get those four or five that would be great,” Gasol said. “I think that would be ideal. If he [can’t] get those four or five, then it would be a little tougher to be on the spot at playoff time. So that would be a little harder on him and on us as well.”

Gasol and his teammates will be happy whenever Rose returns because they understand the emotional lift it would give a group that still believes it can win a title this year. Rose sees the potential as well.

“We can be pretty good. We can be really good,” Rose said. “It’s just all about everybody being healthy, a little bit of luck, and everybody staying together.”

The next step is for Rose to take contact in practice — one his teammates and coaches are hoping he is able to make soon.

“It’s been good,” Rose said of his knee. “Just been taking my time, being patient, doing everything I was supposed to do. Doing all the right things, and everything else is out of my control.”