Knicks Rumors: Derrick Rose Will Prioritize Winning, Not Money In Free Agency
New York Knicks Rumors: Derrick Rose will reportedly prioritize winning over landing the most money in free agency.
New York Knicks rumors are going to begin focusing on the offseason. With the postseason virtually out of hand, the Knicks will begin preparations for the offseason and 2017-18 season. One of the biggest questions looming over the Knicks is Derrick Rose.
Rose is an impending free agent and there is little clarity as to what the Knicks are going to do. Rose’s bizarre incident in early January when he went AWOL is enough for a team to wipe their hands clean of a player.
That, along with his supposed contract demands, could turn the Knicks off. Soon after that incident, a report surfaced that Rose was seeking to land a max contract this summer. Rose has played decent this season with the biggest victory being his health.
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Rose hasn’t missed any games because of his surgically repaired knees, which is a win. He has looked very explosive at times and has showcased the ability to get to the rim whenever he wants. But he has left much to be desired defensively and the Knicks have lacked a flow offensively, which can be attributed to Rose’s style of play and the scheme they use.
The Knicks willingness to trade him at the NBA Trade Deadline could show their hand for the future. The Knicks tried hard to trade Rose at the deadline, with the Minnesota Timberwolves being heavily rumored as a landing spot. Nothing came to fruition and he remained with the Knicks.
The team has reportedly not ruled out re-signing Rose, which would be a surprise to many fans. While he has been a headache at times, his latest statement backtracks from his max contract demands that were previously reported.
When talking to reporters in Utah prior to the Knicks game on Wednesday night, Rose shared some feelings about his impending free agency.
"“Not even thinking money. I’ve got more than enough money saved. If I stopped playing basketball now, I’ll be all right. I want to win. I want to be happy and feel at peace with myself wherever I’m at. But being at the negotiating table, you never know. I’m not going to negotiate with people where money is the No. 1 thing I’m asking for. I want to win.”"
This is a big change from the max contract demands. If he truly only cares about winning, his marker should greatly expand in free agency. Not many, if any, teams were going to come calling offering him a max contract. But there could be a number of teams interested to see if he would be willing to come off the bench if it meant a better chance at competing for a championship.
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At 28-years old, this could be the last time that Rose can lock up a long-term deal. But, he has already made a ton of money in his career. Putting winning ahead of money wouldn’t be a huge surprise for Rose in free agency.