Lopez started all 82 games for the Knicks last season and averaged 10.3 points, 7.3 rebounds and 1.6 blocks. Not after Chicago went 42-40 and missed the playoffs for the first time since 2008 – right before the Bulls drafted Rose after bucking 1.7-percent odds to win the lottery.
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Because the Knicks shipped last year’s starting center in Robin Lopez to the Bulls in exchange for Rose, the franchise will surely be in the market for Noah as well as other big men come July.
League sources told ESPN last month that Durant’s admiration of Porzingis, who he called a “unicorn” last season because of his rare combination of skills, and his friendship with Anthony could factor into Durant’s view of the Knicks.
Rose may not have an issue with joining a new team either.
Some fans are torn after hearing news that Derrick Rose has reportedly been traded to the New York Knicks. Rose played almost 32 minutes per game for the Bulls last season and showed flashes of his old self at times.
Another ESPNer, Chris Broussard tweeted: “Love the Derrick Rose trade to Knicks 4 Calderon, Grant and Lopez”.
Granted, Derrick Rose didn’t have a good year and the Bulls were looking to deal him away, but how does this trade even justify what the Bulls got in return? But like Rose, the number has its roots in Chicago.
Rose has battled injuries since he was named NBA MVP in the 2010-11 season.
The trio should help the Knicks in their triangle offensive scheme, one used famously by Jackson in his days with the Michael Jordan-led Bulls and the Los Angeles Lakers. But life doesn’t always work that way and given how hard it’s been for him the past four seasons, going to NY is a welcome change of scenery for the once mighty star.
The Indiana Pacers traded one Indianapolis native for another Wednesday – sending George Hill to Utah and acquiring Jeff Teague in a three-team swap that also includes Atlanta.
Signing Pau Gasol or Joakim Noah, two bigs with whom Rose is obviously familiar, wouldn’t be a bad idea in a vacuum, of course. With that, the Bulls would have a pretty solid core of young talent at the PG and PF spots, with a solid center in Robin Lopez, and a two-way star in Jimmy Butler. He has failed to play more than 66 games in a regular season since 2011.
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Sixers: Barring a series of unreal events, the Sixers are likely to select Ben Simmons with the No. 1 pick in the National Basketball Association draft Thursday.
