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Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau managed to sign former Bulls / Timberwolves player Taj Gibson for the depth of the greats.
Now let’s see what happens with Pistons backing point guard Derrick Rose, who was also a former Private Thibodeau in Chicago and Minnesota and played 64 games for the Knicks in the 2016-17 season.
The Knicks, among others, are interested in Rose, an NBA source familiar with the situation confirmed to the Post. According to sources, the Knicks have yet to have talks with the Pistons.
Rose is an impending free agent and the Pistons own the worst NBA record at 4-13 and are linked with their lottery pick Killian Hayes at point guard.
The Post learned that Thibodeau had gone to great lengths to sign Gibson for more depth recently. Sources close to Thibodeau believe he would still like to find Rose.
While in Minnesota, Thibodeau attempted to detach Rose from the Knicks before the 2017 trade deadline, but backed off with hours to come. The Thibodeau T’wolves later signed Rose as a free agent.
In July, BJ Armstrong, Rose’s agent, told the Post that Thibodeau and Rose still had a tie – cut from the same material.
“Every once in a while you find someone who matches your personality,” Armstrong said. “Tom and Derrick just hit it off. These are peas in a pod. They’re basketball junkies. They love the game. They both love to compete. They had a unique understanding between them. ”
Thibodeau is credited with helping Rose become the league’s Most Valuable Player early in his career and the Chicago native can still score – a weakness for the Knicks.
The beauty of the Knicks’ situation is that they have a cap of $ 18 million which means they can absorb Rose’s contract without even giving up a player.
If that represents a pay cut, the Pistons would probably want at least one draft pick unless they feel Frank Ntilikina, also a free agent after this season, is a good French connection with Hayes, an American raised in France. Rose is making $ 7.5 million this season.
The oft-injured Ntilikina is currently out of the Knicks’ rotation.
Is Rose a definitive upgrade from starting point guard Elfrid Payton? Not on defense where Payton excels. Neither is far from a solid 3-point shooter.
However, 32-year-old Rose has the advantage of being a penetrator who can finish with the best and also enjoys the quick break. Rose averages 14.8 points and 4.6 assists off the bench and shoots 43% (33.3 of 3).
The younger Payton, who has received excessive criticism from Knicks fans, has been streaked but can still lead the ball and has a soft feel in the lane. He posted good numbers from all 18 games and the Knicks topped expectations at 8-10 coming into play on Tuesday.
Payton averages 12.6 points and 3.9 assists, shooting 43.5 percent – 27.8 of 3. The Knicks are just 2-8 when Payton doesn’t score at least five field goals. . When Rose scores five or more field goals, the Pistons’ record is 6-2.
Jeff Van Gundy, the former Thibodeau boss with whom he is still in contact, recently told the Post that the Knicks need to improve their offensive talent.
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