New York Knicks: Bulls Owner Explains Getting Rid of Rose and Noah
By Nick Ziegler
The New York Knicks had a big offseason with their notable additions of Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah. However, why did the Chicago Bulls let them go?
It was a great offseason for the New York Knicks, who now have hopes of being a playoff team. A big part of the offseason was the acquisition of players from the Chicago Bulls. First, the Knicks pulled off a big trade with the Bulls to acquire point guard Derrick Rose. The point guard position has been a weakness for the Knicks in recent years, but Rose should solve that problem.
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The Rose trade did cost the Knicks their center Robin Lopez. However, it was a good class of free agents at the center position, and the Knicks were able to sign Joakim Noah. The Rose trade was a bit surprising, as Bulls owner Jerry Reinsdorf explains that it was mainly made to acquire Lopez.
“What we felt was it was time,” Reinsdorf told the Chicago Tribune regarding the late-June Rose blockbuster. “We felt Joakim wasn’t going to be a frontline guy anymore. I was pretty confident that Pau [Gasol] was going to leave, so it was important for us to get the center in [Robin] Lopez.
Rose’s career started out so bright in Chicago as their hometown star. Unfortunately, injuries to Rose resulted in the Bulls having their championship window close very quickly on them.
“It was time for Derrick to go on and play someplace else and try to establish himself,’’ Reinsdorf added to K.C Johnson. “Gar [Forman, the Bulls GM] and Pax [president John Paxson] were high on the [Jerian] Grant kid. We thought that was the necessary first step no matter how we were going to go.”
In addition to Rose being part of the Bulls’ championship hopes, injuries to Noah also held the Bulls back.
“It’s disappointing because I had high hopes for the last group. I thought they could contend for titles, maybe win one or more, but certainly contend,” Reinsdorf said to Johnson. “All those injuries to Derrick, it just didn’t work out. But it’s not easy to win championships.”
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Furthermore, Rose and Noah will be attempting to win the championship that eluded them in Chicago with the Knicks. On paper, the Knicks look like they can certainly contend in the Eastern Conference, but health will be important. Finally, it will be exciting to see what Rose and Noah will bring to the Knicks this coming season.