NBA Trade Rumors: Derrick Rose to Knicks; Pistons Get Dennis Smith Jr., Picks | Bleacher Report

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The Detroit Pistons were reportedly set to swap veteran point guard Derrick Rose for the New York Knicks in exchange for point guard Dennis Smith Jr. and preparation of compensation, according to Shams Charania and James Edwards III of The Athletic.

The move comes because the Pistons are in the early stages of a painful rebuild.

Detroit has spent a lot in the off-season, and Jeremi Grant is enjoying a breakout year. However, the fact that the team is at 5-18 last in the Eastern Conference can not be bypassed.

Charania and Edwards previously reported that Rose and the Pistons had mutually agreed that a trade would be best for both parties. Rose could play in a team closer to the playoffs, and Detroit could focus on younger players in the backfield.

The situation is not too surprising, as the past few years have unfolded in the Motor City.

Blake Griffin underwent arthroscopic surgery on his knee last January. Reggie Jackson also missed much of 2019-20 due to a stress response in his back in front be bought out of his contract.

The Pistons obviously had high hopes when they acquired Griffin in January 2018, but the optimism is gone. The dissertation of Andre Drummond in a salary drop before the deadline for 2020 showed how the organization is prepared to take a long-term view on the roster.

Detroit has held Rose, probably in part because he counts only $ 7.7 million against the salary cap. The front office knew it could easily go on trade negotiations later.

Rose was still a productive presence on the track after his bounce season with the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2018-19. He averaged 18.1 points and 5.6 assists in 50 games. He scored a career-best 49 percent of his field goals, though his 30.6 percent clip from outside the arc showed his range remained a bit limited.

Through 15 games in 2020-21, he scored 14.2 points and 4.2 assists in 22.8 minutes on the floor.

Rose’s knee injuries ruined his NBA career, and it looked like he was nearing an unceremonious end to the league, following a brutal start to the 2017-18 campaign with the Cleveland Cavaliers.

While his days as an MVP contender are over, his rally with the Timberwolves showed he was back as a dynamic goalkeeper. He could not hide his emotion after a 50-point performance in a win over the Utah Jazz on October 31, 2018.

The Knicks basically know what they’re getting in Rose, given his pre-season with the 2016-’17 franchise.

He has never beaten more than 37 percent of his three-pointers over a full season, and he has not adjusted his game too much to justify his injuries. According to NBA.com, 42.4 percent of his shot attempts came within 10 feet of the basket.

Rose’s contributions to the defense are also minimal. In 2019-20, he finished 89th among point guards in ESPN’s defensive rights plus or minus (minus -2.50).

And its durability will always be a question mark. He was limited to 51 appearances in 2018-’19 and was out for 16 games a year ago.

Having said all that, Rose’s points and playmaking make him a great addition to the backfield in New York.

The Knicks’ point guard situation has been pretty dire for several seasons. The Smith experiment did not work, and Elfrid Payton’s inability to stretch the floor makes him unfit to be a starting option.

Immanuel Quickley shows promise as a rookie and could be a long-term solution. However, the franchise does not immediately want to put too much pressure on the 21-year-old.

With the addition of Rose, the Knicks found a short-term gap, and there would be no doubt about his adjustment to head coach Tom Thibodeau, as they spent nearly six seasons with the Chicago Bulls and Timberwolves.