Knicks Rumors: Potential Interest In Derrick Rose
New York Knicks Rumors: The Knicks have had internal discussions about the possibility of trading for Chicago Bulls point guard Derrick Rose.
New York Knicks rumors will begin to pick up in the coming days as we are less than a week away from the 2016 NBA Draft. There have been rumors about the Knicks wan to trade into the draft, as they are currently without a selection in this year’s draft. If they are able to get into the draft, they will undoutbedlty look to add a point guard to the roster, as it is the position that the front office has pinpointed as needing an upgrade.
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If for whatever reason the Knicks are unable to land a point guard, free agency is the next shot they will have to upgrade the position. Mike Conley and Rajon Rondo are the cream of the crop at the position this offseason, but the Knicks are reportedly not high on the free agent point guards this summer.
That leaves the trade market as the only other option for the Knicks. There were rumors earlier in the offseason that the Knicks were interested in Sacramento Kings point guard Darren Collison. But, that most likely not be an option any longer, as Collison was arrested earlier in the offseason on felony domestic violence charges.
With Collison probably off the list, where else could the Knicks turn for a point guard trade? How about the Chicago Bulls and Derrick Rose.
The Bulls have been a part of some rumors recently with the Minnesota Timberwolves involving Jimmy Butler and the Timberwolves’ No.5 pick. The Bulls level of interest in moving Rose is currently unknown, and according to ESPN New York’s Ian Begley, the Knicks are one team that would be interested.
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Begley said that the Knicks have had internal discussions about acquiring Rose, but they are short on assets to move for the former MVP. Outside of Carmelo Anthony, Kristaps Porzingis and future first round picks, the Knicks have very little in the way of valuable assets that other teams would want.
It is clear they need an upgrade at point guard though, as Jose Calderon, Jerian Grant and Tony Wroten are the point guards currently on the roster. Rose, despite multiple injuries the past few seasons, would still represent an upgrade for the Knicks at the position.
Rose is not the player that he once was, but he would provide better production than the Knicks have gotten in recent seasons from the point guard position. He would give them someone that can attack the rim, and still put up pretty good numbers last season, averaging 16.4 points, 4.7 assists and 3.4 rebounds in 31.8 minuntes per game; Calderon and Grant combined averaged only 13.2 points, 6.4 assists and 5.1 rebounds in 44.7 minutes per game.
While he looks to be a shell of his former self, as the injuries and surgeries have sapped him of the elite athleticism he once possessed, he would still be an upgrade for the Knicks. Also, his contract would help them in the future.
The Knicks know that they are not contenders right now, and have to continue building around Porzingis. Rose would improve the product on the court this season, but also in year’s to come because of his contract. Rose is owed $21,323,250 for the 2016-17 season, but then he becomes a free agent.
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That would be a huge number to clear off their books for the summer of 2017, which would make the Knicks major players in free agency that summer. It would be a good time to have cap space when point guards such as Russell Westbrook, Stephen Curry, Jrue Holiday and Jeff Teague could become free agents.
While that is a pipe dream right now for Knicks fans, the possibility to acquire an upgrade in Rose for this upcoming season does exist. Making a package that would entice the Bulls may be tough, as the Knicks would have to get creative to match Rose’s salary without trading away Anthony.