New York Knicks Must Look Past Derrick Rose as PG Option
The New York Knicks search for backcourt talent could start with the Chicago Bulls roster. Is point guard Derrick Rose a viable option as a one-year rental?
The New York Knicks are once again turning to the NBA’s fading star to add vigor to the franchise, which never made sense in this team’s history.
How did Anfernee Hardaway, Tracy McGrady and Steve Francis pan out in New York after their glory years and multiple injuries? Yet, the Knicks continue to chase the falling star from the NBA skies in an attempt to preserve their glimmer and escape playoff futility.
Who’s the next over-the-hill big name that caught the Knicks’ attention? According to ESPN’s Ian Begley, it’s point guard Derrick Rose.
Let’s go beyond Rose’s extensive injury history. Most people know about his knee issues, which required multiple surgeries.
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What about the long-term effects, which forced Rose to alter his game?
In the first three seasons, Rose shot at or above 44 percent. He quickly became an elite slasher toward the basket. His ability to penetrate baited defenders who swiped at the dribble and drew bigger bodies into the lane, which opened opportunities for shooters in space.
Then, he tore his ACL in the first round of the 2012 playoffs.
After missing the following season and playing 10 regular-season games in the next, Rose’s dynamic ability to score and dish out assists never made a full comeback.
His assist averages immediately dropped from nearly eight per game to slightly over four per contest. The ability to draw defenders away from the perimeter hindered floor spacing, something Phil Jackson’s triangle offense needs to thrive in a general setup.
Despite denying the injury affecting his psyche, Rose became tentative about driving to the hoop. He started to rely more so on his jump shot.
In 2014-15, Rose shot 40 percent from the field and 28 percent beyond the arc. Due to seldom attempts at driving the lane, his free-throw attempts dropped nearly 50 percent compared to his prime seasons between 2010-12.
In the previous season, he played 66 games, but his shooting percentage hovered around 42 percent. He also posted a career-low in free throw attempts per game (2.7).
In today’s NBA, where three-point shooting reigns supreme, and the Knicks desperately need a floor general to sort out the offense, Rose isn’t the best choice for the team, especially in a trade scenario.
A year ago, Rose made comments during Bulls’ Media Day about free agency in 2017. It sounds like he’s ready to cash in:
Based on those candid comments, he’s looking for huge payout once his contract expires at the end of next season.
Here’s a slight recap.
The Knicks are interested in a player who’s nowhere close to his prior MVP form, trying to find a sweet shooting spot on the court to accommodate a new play style and seeing dollar signs in another year. Sounds like the perfect cocktail for a one-year rental, who may or may not give the team 50 inefficient games next season.
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When viewing Rose’s night and day play style, it’s foolish to think he’ll break away from his shooting tendencies and revert to the reckless player that put his name in bright lights. A jump-shooting point guard averaging fewer than five assists per game won’t help the Knicks in the short term. It’s a hollow move to appease a fanbase hungry for improvement.
As a fan favorite and former face of the franchise, the Bulls won’t let Rose go for few benchwarmers. With limited roster assists behind forwards Carmelo Anthony and Kristaps Porzingis, it’ll possibly cost the Knicks future first-round picks.
General manager Steve Mills and Jackson should aim for better roster fits in the summer or set their sights on the free-agent frenzy in 2017.