Finally, the long-awaited reunion between Derrick Rose and Tom Thibodeau at the New York Knicks has become a reality. This is how Shams Charania from The Athletic a few hours earlier, and has finally been confirmed by the same journalist and Adrian Wojnarowski from ESPN.
Specifically, the Detroit Pistons have reached an agreement with the Knicks to send Rose to the New York franchise, and in return they receive Dennis Smith Jr. and a second-round pick from the 2021 draft.
A few days ago we learned that the Pistons and Rose reached an agreement that a trade would be the best for their future, and that several teams were interested in the veteran point guard, including the Clippers and the Knicks themselves emerged as the greatest candidates to stay with the player. Finally it will be Tom Thibodeau who will remain with the services of his former ward. Under the command of the current Knicks coach, Rose showed his best level, and became the MVP youngest in the history of the League.
The operation will add supporters and detractors. For one thing, New Yorkers are a few games short of 50 percent wins, and a talent like Rose’s is an interesting addition to chasing one of the last playoff spots in the Eastern Conference. It’s clearly a trade that makes sense in the short term for the Knicks, aside from reuniting their coach again with one of their favorite players.
But on the other hand, some questions arise about the impact that Rose’s arrival could have in the long term. What will be debated the most in the coming days is how this change will affect Immanuel Quickley’s present. The 25th pick from the last draft has been one of the best surprises of the season, and there will be concerns that his minutes and growth will be overshadowed by the former MVP.
Economically, the operation does not pose a great risk for the Knicks. Rose is in the final season of his contract for $ 7.7 million, so he will be an unrestricted free agent after the 2020-21 season.
It should be remembered that this will be Rose’s second stint at the Knicks. In the 2016-17 season he was already part of the team, although he could never find his level under Phil Jackson’s offensive triangle regime. While it will be the third opportunity that he receives orders from Thibodeau, after being his coach for several years in the Bulls, and in the Timberwolves in the 2017-18 season.
As Wojnarowski has reported, Austin Rivers is likely to become a player hunted by contenders to strengthen their rosters. The arrival of Rose leaves an overpopulation of outside players in the Knicks, who already had Rivers, Quickley and Payton enjoying several minutes. So the departure of the former Clippers and Rockets would make a lot of sense if Leon Rose gets something in return.
The unknown of the Pistons and Dennis Smith Jr.
Derrick Rose is averaging 14 points, 4 assists, and a more than acceptable 42 percent shooting from the field this season (at 32). But it contributed little to the long-term of a Pistons who need to dive once and for all into a deep reconstruction and group young talent.
Now they will add a young player like Smith Jr., and Charlotte Hornets’ 2021 second-round pick, which was owned by the Knicks. Smith never found his place after being traded by the Dallas Mavericks to New York, but during his arrival in the NBA he was one of the players on whom the most expectations had been placed.
After a decent rookie season with the Mavericks, in which he averaged 15.2 points and 5.2 assists, his level has dropped drastically to no place in the Knicks’ rotation. Therefore, he had asked the team to send him to the bubble of the G League so I could have some playtime; so it is not yet clear whether he will remain there or join the Pistons immediately.
While at first the move might seem like little flavor for the Pistons, they get the chance to give Smith Jr. another chance, who was one of the best-regarded young men in his draft litter. And if the project fails, it is only an expiring contract of $ 5.7 million. The point guard will be a restricted free agent if Detroit extends him a qualified offer, otherwise it will be without restrictions to decide his future.
(Cover photo by Gregory Shamus / Getty Images)