New York Knicks Bring Back Old Rose to the Garden

The New York Knicks have acquired Derrick Rose in a trade with the Detroit Pistons.

.@nyknicks Acquire Derrick Rose pic.twitter.com/eqfBSOwGad

— NY_KnicksPR (@NY_KnicksPR) February 8, 2021

New York parted with guard Dennis Smith Jr. and a future second-round pick in order to bring an old Rose back to the Garden. Rose played for the Knicks during the 2016-17 season, averaging 18.0 points and 3.8 rebounds, and 4.4 assists in 64 games played. But not only is Rose returning to New York, but he will also be reunited with head coach Tom Thibodeau, who has brought Rose to every coaching stop he’s made in the NBA.

Reunited Once Again

In 2011, Derrick Rose became the youngest MVP in league history under Tom Thibodeau’s watch. Thibs was named Coach of the Year that same season when the Bulls finished with the best record in the NBA. Thibodeau would be named Eastern Conference All-Star game coach the following season but their glory years in Chicago ended after Rose suffered a series of knee injuries.

Thibodeau left for Minnesota while Rose ended up getting traded to New York, then Cleveland. In 2018, Rose signed with the Minnesota Timberwolves to reunite with Thibs and former teammate Taj Gibson. The Knicks signed Gibson earlier this season and now, Thibs has traded for Rose, reuniting the three once again in the Big Apple.

Rose has played in a total of 15 games for the Pistons this season. He is averaging 14.2 points, 4.2 assists, and 1.2 steals per game in 22 minutes of playing time. But don’t let those numbers fool you. D-Rose is coming off a 2019-20 campaign where he averaged 18.1 points and 5.6 assists per game, easily his best year since 2012.

Although Rose is no longer the explosive force he once was, he has reinvented his game and has become a more controlled and mature basketball player. He can still run the show for any team but it’s his ability to create scoring opportunities for himself and his teammates that still stands out. In that sense, he also fills a void for the Knicks.

What a Derrick Rose Trade Means for the Knicks

Thibodeau’s old-school approach has one of the league’s youngest teams playing defense with New York currently ranked 7th in defensive rating and 1st in points allowed per game. However, while they’re having success on the defensive end, New York has been struggling on the other side of the court.

New York is the league’s lowest-scoring team at 102.7 points per game this season. They are ranked 24th in offensive rating, 24th in FG%, and 29th in passing at 21.0 assists per game. Needing a boost in the offense, the Knicks have turned to an old hand for Thibs who, while no longer his old MVP self, is still one of the most consistent veteran scorers in the league.

After Monday’s games, the 11-14 Knicks are ranked 9th in the Eastern Conference team standings. They are just one-half game of 8th place and only three behind the third-seeded Nets. With how close the team standings are, plus the fact that there will be a play-in tournament for the final seed in the conferences this season, it looks like Thibs thinks that they will need Rose down the stretch, and possibly in the postseason.

The Knicks have the 10th best odds to win the Eastern Conference at +10000 at SportsBetting.ag. While that doesn’t say much about them winning the conference, it’s an indication that oddsmakers are looking at them as a Top 10 team in the East and thus, will likely figure in the battle for the final playoff spots in the conference.