Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau got what he wanted by hiring former Bulls / Timberwolves player Taj Gibson to take a prominent place.
Now let’s see what happens to Pistons reserve guard Derrick Rose, who was also a former Thibodeau soldier in Chicago and Minnesota and played 64 games for the Knicks during the 2016-17 season.
The Knicks, among others, have an interest in Rose, an NBA source familiar with the situation, confirmed to The Post. According to sources, the Knicks have yet to have an argument with the Pistons.
Rose is an imminent free agent and the Pistons have the NBA’s worst record at 4-13 and are tied to their choice in the lottery, Killian Hayes, as point guard.
The Post learned that Thibodeau made a lot of effort to hire Gibson recently for greater depth. Sources close to Thibodeau believe he would still like to meet Rose.
While in Minnesota, Thibodeau tried to get Rose out of the Knicks ahead of the 2017 negotiation deadline, but gave up with hours to go. Thibodeau’s T’wolves later signed Rose as a free agent.
In July, BJ Armstrong, Rose’s agent, told the Post that Thibodeau and Rose always had a bond – cut from the same fabric.
“Every now and then, you meet someone who matches your personality, ” said Armstrong. “Tom and Derrick got along well. They are peas in a pod. They are addicted to basketball. They love the game. They both love to compete. They had a unique understanding between them. ”
Thibodeau is credited with helping Rose’s rise to the league’s MVP early in his career and the Chicago native can still score – a Knicks weakness.
The beauty of the Knicks’ situation is that they have $ 18 million in cap space, which means they can absorb Rose’s contract without even giving up on a player.
If that means a wage eviction, the Pistons will probably want at least a draft choice, unless they feel that Frank Ntilikina, also a free agent after this season, is a good French connection with Hayes, an American raised in France. Rose is earning $ 7.5 million this season.
The often injured Ntilikina is currently out of the Knicks’ rotation.
Is Rose a definite upgrade over initial owner Elfrid Payton? Not in defense, where Payton stands out. None of them are close to being a solid 3-point shooter.
However, Rose, 32, has a strong advantage as a penetrator who can finish with the best and also celebrate on the counterattack. Rose averages 14.8 points and 4.6 assists off the bench and shoots 43 percent (33.3 out of 3).
Younger Payton, who has received excessive criticism from Knicks fans, has been unstable, but still manages to drive the ball and has a soft touch on the track. He had good numbers starting all 18 games and the Knicks exceeded expectations by 8-10, coming into play on Tuesday.
Payton has an average of 12.6 points and 3.9 assists, shooting 43.5 percent – 27.8 out of 3. The Knicks have only a 2-8 record when Payton fails to score at least five field goals. When Rose scores at least five field goals, the Pistons record is 6-2.
Jeff Van Gundy, the former chief of Thibodeau with whom he is still in contact, told the Post recently that the Knicks need to update their offensive talent.