[ad_1]
The NBA intelligentsia is mostly positive about the Knicks’ addition of point guard Derrick Rose – especially because he’s able to work with coach Tom Thibodeau again.
Although Rose, 32, has had multiple knee surgeries, Thibodeau is still making the most of him. He won the MVP at 22 in Chicago under the current Knicks coach.
“He was very good in Minnesota [with Thibodeau], maybe not as good in Detroit, ‘said an NBA personnel manager. “Thibodeau always makes Rose play her best. ”
The Knicks won’t ask Rose to play a major role – likely as a backup for Elfrid Payton and possibly as a closer in many games.
According to a Pistons source, Rose preferred to leave the bench in Detroit. The Pistons source said an unofficial minute restriction existed for Rose due to her past surgeries, including one that ended her season with the Knicks in 2016-17.
The Pistons believed that Rose’s production generally waned after 23 minutes; he’s averaged 22.8 minutes this season in Detroit.
That’s probably the maximum the Knicks have in mind for Rose anyway. The Knicks almost announced with this trade that they were planning to be in the thick of a playoff race – the youth be damned.
After 25 games, the Knicks, whose home and home continue with the Heat on Tuesday in Miami, are 11-14, entering eighth place in the Eastern Conference on Monday.
“It makes sense because there is a lot of pressure on the organization – they feel they need to win,” said an NBA executive familiar with the thinking of the Knicks. “It’s not right to play better than last season and to improve. It’s not enough. There’s an internal pressure they wanna win no matter the minutes [Rose] take. They just want to win. He still has a tremendous ability to score.
“Thibs understands Rose,” added the executive. “Rose understands Thibs.”
Eastern Conference staff member loves the move.
“He’s going to help you,” he said. “He still gets to the hoop easily and he’s a better shooter than he was five years ago. The big plus is that Thibs trusts him in clutch situations, down the length. He will be a positive force in close matches.
There is the rookie reserve point guard thinking Immanuel Quickley will lose minutes against Rose. That could be the case some nights, although struggling Austin Rivers’ playing time seems more in danger.
Knicks Brass might be more willing to have Thibodeau downsize Quickley on some nights – despite his popularity – as long as their lottery pick Obi Toppin gets regular action on the bench.
“They have to find a way for Obi to play – they drafted him out [eighth] and they will make sure to continue his tendency to play, ” the executive said. “Quickley is a late guy in the first round. It starts to mean something if a lottery guy isn’t playing then they’ll find a way to handle it. ”
Off the Detroit bench, Rose averaged 14.2 points and 4.2 assists in 15 games, but hasn’t played since Jan. 30 as the Pistons quietly sought to trade him.
“He’s still a good, productive player,” said a Western Conference scout. “His familiarity with Thibs makes sense to me for the Knicks. It adds another playmaker. ”
Rose will likely support Payton in a crowded backcourt that also features combined Rivers and Quickley guards.
“The good thing about the Knicks is that everyone in the backcourt is interchangeable,” said an Eastern Conference scout. “Derrick could play with Austin, can play with Immanuel, can play with Elfrid. ”
More transactions may be in the works before the March transaction deadline. Sources say Payton increased its business value and attracted interest.
With Rose’s $ 7.7 million salary traded for Dennis Smith Jr.’s $ 5.4 million, the Knicks have a cap of over $ 15 million to facilitate future trading math.
“The team was developing consistency and chemistry so it could backfire on us,” said another talent assessor. “But they have [Rose] for virtually nothing. And he could be a good business asset and they need more oomph. ”
The Clippers, Bucks, Heat and Nets have reportedly made offers for Rose. But as The Post reported, Rose wanted that second stint to be with the Knicks. This is his third with Thibodeau.
“I think this decision surprised a lot of teams,” said another NBA scout. “They expected him to be traded for a title contender. He certainly still has a lot to contribute. Obviously, the connection is the coach. ”
[ad_2]
Source link