Derrick Rose returns to the New York Knicks, where he will reunite with former head coach Tom Thibodeau. The Detroit Pistons traded Rose to the Knicks in exchange for Dennis Smith Jr. and a second round in 2021, New York announced Monday.
Earlier this week, the Pistons and Rose mutually agreed that a trade would be best, and several teams were interested in the veteran, including the Los Angeles Clippers. In the end, however, the Knicks apparently came up with the best offer.
Now that the transaction is complete, let’s rate the trade:
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Pistons received:
Knicks received:
Commerce Detroit: B-
Smith never really found his place in New York and actually asked the team to send him to the G League bubble so he could get some playing time. It is not yet clear if he will stay there or join the Pistons immediately. Either way, it’s worth venturing through Detroit.
At this stage of their process, the Pistons need to acquire as much talent as possible and see what gets stuck. Even if they can unlock anything in Smith, it’s a better use of their time to look at another young guard, than to have the stats of a bad team picked up. On top of that, they get an extra choice for their problems, and that’s never bad.
Trading degree in New York: C
The Knicks, meanwhile, are hovering a few games below .500, but it’s much better than anyone expected, and has also enabled them to chase one of the last playoff spots in the Eastern Conference. In fact, when they came in on Sunday, they were in seventh place and only 1.5 games back as fifth. This agreement is a clear sign that they are desperate to snap their drought after the season, which dates back to 2013.
But while that may make sense in the short term, especially since it reunites Thibodeau with one of his favorite players, there are questions about the long-term consequences. Specifically, how does Rose’s arrival affect Immanuel Quickley, the newcomer?
The number 25 overall pick was one of the best surprises of the season, but there are already concerns about him getting stuck behind veteran guards. The addition of another mixture can further reduce its playing time and impede its development. If so, is it worth it to earn a quick playoff game in the first round?