Knicks Rumors: Multiple Teams View Derrick Rose As Trade Target
New York Knicks rumors: Point guard Derrick Rose is reportedly drawing interest as a trade target from multiple teams.
New York Knicks rumors will begin picking up in the coming days. With the NBA Trade Deadline less than a week away you can be sure you will hear rumblings about the possibilities of players coming and going.
A lot of the trade rumors surrounding the Knicks have revolved around Carmelo Anthony. President Phil Jackson is reportedly determined to move Anthony before the Trade Deadline, but the decision doesn’t lie with Jackson. Anthony has a full no-trade clause and will control where he wants to go, if anywhere.
Anthony has constantly expressed his desire to stay in New York, so he is unlikely to leave unless something changes during the All-Star break; maybe LeBron James can convince him to go to Cleveland, especially with Kevin Love now sidelined?
More from New York Knicks
- New York Knicks Fall to Eighth After NBA Draft Lottery
- New York Knicks: Players to Draft in Worst-Case Lottery Scenario
- New York Knicks: Three Players Who Should Thrive Under Tom Thibodeau
- Is Devin Booker to the New York Knicks Realistic?
- New York Knicks: Tom Thibodeau Officially Hired as Head Coach
While the Anthony rumors will dominate headlines despite the minuscule chance of a trade being made, there are other players that could be shopped by the team. One of those players is point guard Derrick Rose.
The Knicks acquired Rose from the Chicago Bulls this past offseason in a trade. Jackson was hoping to push the Knicks into contender status, but the move has backfired. Justin Holiday, whom many considered a throw-in along with Rose, has been the best piece acquired in that deal. Now, the Knicks could try moving on from the move and trade Rose.
According to ESPN New York’s Ian Begley, there are multiple teams that view Rose as a trade target with the deadline looming. Rose is aware of the trade talks and knows that he could be traded if the Knicks want to head in another direction.
"“I like being here but (you) never know what could happen,” Rose said Wednesday. “My job is to come in and play as hard as I can.”"
Like Anthony, Rose could be difficult to trade because of the size of his contract. He may only be a rental, but the Knicks may have to take back future salary to make the numbers work. That is something they should avoid, as building future assets and cap space should be the goal.
It is kind of surprising that there are teams interested in Rose. If they are looking for him to be a starting point guard, he will probably be a disappointment. While he has remained healthy for the most part this season, Rose has been ineffective as a whole.
He has shown explosiveness getting to the basket; that part of his game seems to be back. Through 48 games Rose has decent stats, averaging 17.7 points, 4.8 assists, and 3.9 rebounds in 32.2 points per game. The Knicks are 6.7 points better per 100 possessions with Rose on the court, but the team has just not meshed as Jackson and the front office had hoped.
Rose does not impact the game as much as he used to. When he attacks the basket it is to score; he rarely looks to get teammates involved. His three-point shot is also nonexistent, lowering his impact offensively.
Defensively Rose is very poor. Whether he is incapable of playing defense or just chooses not to, Rose doesn’t bring it on that end of the court. That could turn off a lot of teams unless they are going to move him to the bench.
Next: New York Knicks: 5 Likeliest Players To Be Gone By Trade Deadline
Rose has only come off the bench once in his NBA career. But, given his style of play and how he has performed with the Knicks this season, he could be best suited for a sixth man role. He could fill the instant offense role off the bench, giving whichever team may acquire him some serious scoring punch with the second unit.