It’s one of the best times of the year in the NBA. We’re closing in on the NBA trade deadline, and there’s many big names being tossed around for potential blockbuster deals. This is the first piece of my multi-piece segment regarding NBA trade rumors. Today I will be focusing on Derrick Rose’s potential future away from the Chicago Bulls organization.
Many teams want to be in on the Derrick Rose sweepstakes, but so far we’ve only heard rumors involving a few teams. Recently we’ve heard more and more about how Derrick Rose would be a good fit for the New York Knicks. Imagine the media hype the Knicks would receive if Derrick Rose called Madison Square Garden home. I can see the future headlines of the New York Daily News now: “There’s a new Rose in the Garden Thanks to Blockbuster Deal.” Derrick Rose has spewed comments to the media over the course of the past months that hint that he’s all about money. He wants to go to a team that is willing to give him a max contract, and quite frankly that’s not going to happen in Chicago.
Derrick Rose has had plenty of success for the Bulls over the years, but I believe it’s time to move on from Chicago. The former NBA MVP has had more than his fair share of injury issues, which have resulted in him not being the same player on the court he was several years ago. From his time at Memphis, people knew he would be a special player, but a slew of injuries early in his young career may have changed his potential max skill level. Derrick Rose’s contract expires at the end of the 2017 season, but with the emergence of Jimmy Butler as being as new star in the NBA, Rose’s time in the windy city appears to be ending sooner rather than later.
Why does this make sense for the New York Knicks?
The Knicks need a starting point guard they can count on. They’ve been linked to multiple rumors involving Brandon Jennings, Jamal Crawford, Ty Lawson, and even Kevin Martin. In order to take the next step, the Knicks need a substantial point guard to run the show, and Derrick Rose could fill that void. I think a Knicks roster that was centered around Carmelo Anthony as a stretch forward and Derrick Rose at the point would be an immediate contender in a relatively poor Eastern conference.
Why does this make sense for the Chicago Bulls?
Jimmy Butler would flourish with Derrick Rose out of the picture. Imagine a Chicago Bulls team that features Butler as the main leader and star player, a good frontcourt that includes Pau Gasol, Joakim Noah, Taj Gibson, and Bobby Portis, and role players who can shoot like Doug McDermott and Aaron Brooks. That’s a team destined for a deep playoff run. That’s a team that has and utilizes role players to their fullest extent.
The Chicago Bulls will look to move Derrick Rose for various reasons, and that will most likely happen sooner rather than later. The Knicks are in desperate need of a starting point guard and a big time player to have alongside Carmelo Anthony, and trading for Rose would fit both those descriptions. My trade projection is as follows:
Knicks receive: Derrick Rose
Bulls receive: Jose Calderon, Aaron Afflalo, 2019 2nd round pick (from Cleveland)
