The New York Knicks are in talks to acquire former point guard and MVP Derrick Rose from the Detroit Pistons.
The New York Knicks are “engaged in talks” to acquire veteran point guard Derrick Rose from the Detroit Pistons, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic.
Knicks are engaged in talks to acquire Derrick Rose, other teams also interested, with the Pistons and Rose agreeing that a trade elsewhere would be best for both sides, sources tell me and @JLEdwardsIII.
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— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 7, 2021
The 32-year-old Rose spent the 2016-17 season with the Knicks and averaged 18 points and 4.4 assists per game. This season, he has posted 14.2 points and 4.2 assists in 15 games for the Detroit Pistons.
Charania and Athletic colleague James L. Edwards III also named the Los Angeles Clippers as a team interested in Rose. In trading him, the league-worst Pistons would shed what remains of his $7.6 million salary.
JB’s Take
Seeing as how Rose is only averaging 22.8 minutes, it’s no wonder he would want to move on from the rebuilding Pistons.
The New York Knicks, meanwhile, are in a prime position to trade for Derrick Rose. First, he’s played in New York before and know what the fans expect, even if they’re not currently allowed at Madison Square Garden. New York also has a new front office now, with Leon Rose proving just a tad more competent than his predecessor Steve Mills. After years of futility, the Knicks are a young and exciting team again.
It also helps that in New York, Rose would be reunited with Tom Thibodeau, who coached him to an MVP trophy in just his third professional season. The two worked together with the Chicago Bulls and later the Minnesota Timberwolves.
And what would an offer have to look like for the Knicks to land Derrick Rose? Honestly, probably not much. Ian Begley of SNY reports Frank Ntilikina’s name has been bandied about, but Elfrid Payton and Kevin Knox could also be on the move. Rose is a grand improvement above all three of them.
Plus, the Knicks are now the No. 6 team in the Eastern Conference. The youthful core of RJ Barrett, Mitchell Robinson, and Julius Randle is looking strong.
If general manager Scott Perry wants his team to keep improving, he’ll make a trade for Rose happen soon.
Stay tuned to ESNY for further updates on this story!
