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Detroit Pistons guard and former NBA MVP Derrick Rose finds himself in the midst of trade rumors yet again. Although his best days are far behind him, Rose has adjusted well as a solid, role player. Last season with the Pistons, he averaged 18.1 points, 2.4 boards, and 5.6 assists with good efficiency from the field.
His last taste of playoff basketball was with the 2017-18 Minnesota Timberwolves. If a trade pushes through with one of the two rumored suitors, he may be able to reach that stage again. Detroit is rebuilding and is one of the worst teams in the league. They will not reach the postseason. One benefit to Detroit having Rose is that he helped fill up seats, as he is still very much a household name and is still exciting to watch. However, with seating capacity restrictions, this is no longer the case.
Rose is on a one-year, $7.6 million deal with Detroit. His two top suitors, from a report, are the New York Knicks and Los Angeles Clippers.
Current Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau worked with Rose during their runs with the Chicago Bulls and Timberwolves. Thibodeau has a preference and reputation for trusting more in veterans and playing them heavy minutes.
New York regularly uses three point guards, namely Elfrid Payton, Austin Rivers, and rookie Immanuel Quickley. Of the three, Payton is the defensive-oriented one.
The Knicks have an 8-11 record, which puts them in ninth place in the Eastern Conference. One reason for this record has been the strong play of Julius Randle and RJ Barrett with Mitchell Robinson anchoring the defense. On a team with so much young talent, Rose's veteran leadership would be invaluable.
On the other hand, the Clippers could use a seasoned playmaker. There were times last season that the Clippers' offense would become stagnant, especially when their two stars, Kawhi Leonard and Paul George were having an off night. So far, Serge Ibaka and Nicolas Batum are proving to be solid contributors on both ends of the floor.
In general, Derrick Rose would help the offense flow more smoothly and get other players involved. At the same time, he can still create shots for himself, which adds another dimension to the offense.
Below are two trade offers for the Pistons to think about for Derrick Rose.
New York Knicks: Dennis Smith, Jr. and Frank Ntilikina
New York is pushing for a playoff appearance. Detroit is in the middle of a rebuild, although they do have some questionable veteran contracts. In terms of the teams' timelines, this trade would work.
The now 22-year-old Smith was once an exciting prospect who could score at will. However, he has not developed his game much, especially his shooting. If Pistons head coach Dwane Casey and his team can work on Smith's shooting mechanics and improve his decision-making, then Smith could turn into a solid scorer off the bench.
Ntilikina is returning from an injury, but as he is the same age as Smith, time is on his side. Hopefully, he can return sooner rather than later. For a former eighth-overall pick, Ntilikina has certainly underwhelmed. He was a raw prospect with tantalizing, physical tools, but he never really developed.
Nevertheless, the French national is an underrated defender with his seven-foot wingspan. His outside shooting has been improving and finished with a 32.1 percent market from deep last season. He might still be salvaged and turned into a serviceable 3-and-D player.
Acquiring these players, who are both on one-year deals, will serve as an audition. If they do well, the Pistons can sign one or both of them to longer-term contracts and be a part of their rebuild.
Los Angeles Clippers: Lou Williams and Terrance Mann
The Clippers are all-in this season, especially since Leonard is not on a long-term contract. Anything less a championship means the moves they have made would be for naught. Los Angeles has very few assets remaining, but acquiring Derrick Rose is a priority.
Three-time Sixth Man of the Year Lou Williams has seen his playing time drastically reduced. This can be attributed to the additions of Batum and Luke Kennard. The playmaking scorer was at his best when paired with fellow Sixth Man of the Year winner, Montrezl Harrell. Their two-man game was a thing of beauty and an efficient source of points. Harrell, however, is now with the Los Angeles Lakers.
A change of scenery and more playing time might be enough to recapture last season's averages of 18.2 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 5.6 assists per game.
24-year-old Mann is an energetic athlete, who could one day contribute to many facets of the game. He'll need to work on his outside shooting, but the stat-stuffing potential is there.
