Derrick Rose is back at the New York Knicks, where he will meet with former coach Tom Thibodeau. The Detroit Pistons traded Rose with the Knicks in exchange for Dennis Smith Jr. and a runoff choice in 2021, New York announced Monday.
Earlier this week, the Pistons and Rose reached a mutual agreement that an exchange would be better, and several teams were interested in the veteran shipowner, including the Los Angeles Clippers. Ultimately, however, the Knicks apparently had the best offer.
Now that the deal is complete, let’s sort the deal:
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The pistons receive:
Knicks receive:
Detroit commercial class: B-
Smith never really found his place in New York and asked the team to send him to the G League bubble so he could play some time. It is not yet clear whether he will remain there or join the Pistons immediately. Anyway, this is a valid Detroit bet.
At this stage of the process, the pistons need to acquire as much talent as possible and see what they get. Even if they can’t unlock anything in Smith, taking a look at another young guard is a better use of their time than letting Rose accumulate statistics on a bad team. In addition, they will have an extra choice for their problems, and this is never a bad thing.
New York business class: C
The Knicks, for their part, are hovering a few games below 0.500, but this is much better than anyone expected and also has them in a position to chase one of the last playoff spots in the Eastern Conference. In fact, coming in on Sunday, they were in seventh place and just 1.5 games behind fifth. This deal is a clear sign that they are desperate to overcome the post-season drought that started in 2013.
But while this exchange may make sense in the short term, especially as it brings Thibodeau together with one of his favorite players, there are some questions about the long-term ramifications. Specifically, how does Rose’s arrival affect debutant guard Immanuel Quickley?
General choice No. 25 was one of the best surprises of the season, but there are already concerns about him being stuck behind veteran guards. Adding another to the mix can further reduce your playing time and hinder your development. If so, is it worth a quick exit from the playoff in the first round?