Before the Rose trade, the Knicks were projected to have nearly $30 million in cap space this offseason.
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The New York Knicks have landed Derrick Rose as the team’s new point guard in a trade with the Chicago Bulls, the team announced.
Although the Eastern Conference improved in 2015-16, the Knicks should be in prime position to become a playoff team with Rose, Kristaps Porzingis and Carmelo Anthony. He ranked 81st of 85 point guards last season, according to ESPN’s real plus-minus.
With the addition of Rose, the Knicks get a much-needed upgrade to a struggling backcourt that could see guard Arron Afflalo leave in free agency. Still, such a deal should be a huge statement that the team is dedicated to winning now, even as they prepare for the future with Porzingis.
Calderon, 34, posted 7.6 points and 3.2 rebounds per game last season while Grant 5.6 points and 2.3 assists per game. Rose is owed $21 million this season and will become a free agent in 2017. However, a slew of injuries has seemingly derailed the former league MVP’s career.
Year 4 for each player got off to a promising start, with both Sampson and Rose again being named to the All-Star Game.
Rose may not have an issue with joining a new team either.
He won’t have the muscle memory of being an MVP in a New York Knicks uniform, thus the responsibility of having to live up to being that player 82 nights a year won’t wear on him.
If Rose can’t stay healthy, he’s in the previous year of his contract, and the Knicks can look elsewhere for a point guard to pair with their all-rookie forward, Porzingis.
However, it is worth noting that while Noah has spent his entire nine-year National Basketball Association career in Chicago, he will likely be leaving the Bulls on a sour note. Lopez signed a contract with the Knicks last offseason for four seasons.
The deal includes Pacers point guard George Hill going to the Utah Jazz.
As for the Bulls, this trade represents moving on from a troubling time.
Excluding Collins, the last true point guard the Knicks drafted in the first round was Charlie Ward in 1994 (No. 26). Rose was really the most promising player to come to the franchise since some dude out of North Carolina who wore number 23.
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Whatever his new reality will be, Rose will be able to create it on a blank canvas and what’s more, won’t feel the pressure of leading his hometown to glory-something James achieved for Cleveland, but Rose’s body betrayed him before getting enough cracks at it.
