Only 17 games into the New York Knicks season and Derrick Rose has performed according to front office expectations. After dropping a season-high 30 points against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Monday, the Chicago native has scored in double figures in all-but-one of the Knicks games this season, playing an average of 32.6 minutes per game.
Rose is even averaging career-highs in rebounds and free-throw percentage, a welcome sight for head coach Jeff Hornacek. He's played well-enough through the first fifth of the season that the organization could consider a Russell Westbrook-like veteran extension that could keep him with the club for a lot cheaper than if he were to go into arbitration.
By CBA rules, his veteran extension can only be three years long and start at 7.5 percent higher than his current wage. The package would be for approximately three years, $75 million.
Article Continues Below“I haven’t talked to them about it,” Rose told Marc Berman of the New York Post. “It’s been more about winning games. We’ll see. I’m more concerned with trying to win games, but it’s something I’d have to talk about with my family and team.”
According to an NBA source, the Knicks have not approached Rose about an extension, but have not discarded the option for late in the season. The team appears to want to make sure his body can hold up across a full season and would be willing to pay more this summer if they had to.
This approach is quite different from the risk-taking Knicks, as they're willing to be patient and wait it out before making a decision. If they time it right, it can turn from a gamble to a good investment, if they wait too long, it can cost them millions of dollars down the stretch.
The 28-year-old Rose said he wanted to learn more about the specifics. Players in similar situations are Utah’s George Hill and Derrick Favors as well as Indiana’s Paul George.