Derrick Rose Leaves Chicago Bulls, Heads to New York Knicks in Major NBA Trade
New York Nicks Acquires Derrick Rose
In an effort to improve the team's back court, the New York Knicks acquires Chicago Bulls' former number one overall draft pick and season MVP Derrick Rose. Rose, along with Justin Holiday and a 2nd round draft pick in 2017, was traded for 7-foot center Robin Lopez and point guards Jose Calderon and Jerian Grant of the Knicks.
Injury-Plagued Rose
Jeff Hornacek, new head coach of the Knicks, said the team needed a solid point guard. Derrick Rose was one of the top point guards in the league when he first came, winning rookie of the year in 2009 and becoming the youngest season MVP in 2011 at age 22. However, weighty knee injuries have plagued his career since his MVP season campaign, missing the entire 2012-13 season and injuring his right meniscus during the next.
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Last season, rose played 66 of 82 games, averaging 16.4 points, 4.7 assists and 3.4 rebounds per game. That's his second lowest season shooting average. Nevertheless, Hornacek in a statement, said, "Derrick is one of the top point guards in the NBA who is playoff battle-tested. He adds a whole new dynamic to our roster and immediately elevates our backcourt."
Trade Considerations
There are possible trade reasons to consider. First, Phil Jackson openly thinks that Rose is ready to become a superstar again. Second, Jackson thinks Rose can be re-signed at cut-price compared to his actual value. Third, this trade leaves the Knicks with only five active players, giving them enough cap space to add one more max player (Whiteside, Gasol, Noah, or even Dwight Howard are possibilities).
At the very least, getting 27-year-old Rose to play for the Knicks franchise adds another star name to the roster, along with Carmelo Anthony and top sophomore Kristaps Porzingis.
Still, a lot of people believe that Rose is past his prime, and this may have keyed in as a factor to the Bulls non-appearance during the 2016 NBA playoffs for the first time in eight years.
Gam Forman, Bulls GM, said, "Derrick has meant a lot to this organization and this city and to this team and had to overcome a lot over the years with all the injuries to get back to the point he was."
Forman added that the move to trade Rose seemed the right thing to do as they aim to make the team younger and more athletic.
