Re-signing Derrick Rose may not be as complicated as initially thought for the New York Knicks while they recently signed another UDFA.
Derrick Rose was expected to increase his value with a fresh start. The former MVP had his highest field goal percentage since his second year in the league and his highest points per game average since 2011-12. However, he suffered a knee injury at the end of the season and underwent his fourth knee surgery before turning 30.
Now he’s back to that injury-prone label that makes it difficult for any player to ever come back from. At one point in the season, it was reported he was thinking about a max deal. Now NBA executives are saying his market value has dropped over $10 million.
Via Marc Berman of The New York Post:
According to league executives, because of his latest surgery, Rose’s market value likely dropped to the $10 million-$12 million range — above the new full mid-level exception of $8.5 million. The Timberwolves could have as much as $18 million in cap room, but Thibodeau wants to use it on at least two free agents.
Rose can still put the ball in the basket. It’s his defense that made Knicks fans crazy, and that’s new point guard Frank Ntilikina‘s specialty. The Knicks were 26th in defensive rating in 2016-17.
They needed an upgrade on that side of the ball at the lead guard position. It didn’t make a lot of sense to sign Rose at a max salary, but at the $10-$12 million range, even the Knicks will consider the possibility of retaining him.
The Knicks added another player to their summer league roster this weekend: Pittsburgh veteran forward Jamel Artis. According to Ian Begley of ESPN New York, Artis signed a partially-guaranteed deal.
Artis, 24, was 37.8 from three-point range in four seasons at with the Panthers. He’s coming off of his best collegiate season, finishing second on the team in scoring with 18.2 points per game.
Via Begley:
Artis, 6-7, exhibited a strong shooting touch from distance in his last season at Pittsburgh. He also scored 43 points in a game against Louisville last season.