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Derrick Rose: The Ball Stops Here

News recently broke that the New York Knicks have acquired  Derrick Rose from the Chicago Bulls. New York is sending center Robin Lopez and point guards Jerian Grant and Jose Calderon to the Chicago Bulls in exchange for Rose — a three-time All-Star — as well as guard Justin Holiday and a 2017 second-round pick. On the surface this appears to be a great deal for the Knicks; but can new coach Jeff Hornacek make it work?
Rose was the MVP in 2011, but has had a slew of injuries since then. Over the past four years, he has played in 39, 10, 55, and 66 games per season, respectively. Every season, his productivity and minutes go down. In 2015-16, he played 31 minutes-per-game and averaged 16 points with 4.7 assists and 3.4 rebounds. His shot continues to be a work in progress, as he’s 29% from three and 42% from the floor. There are also rumors that he is a bad locker room guy and doesn’t possess leadership skills.
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Financially, the move makes sense; Rose is due $21.3 million in the final year of his contract this season. Lopez, Calderon and Grant were set to cost more than $22.5 million. But other than a “money deal,” this trade makes absolutely no sense.
The Knicks now have two players (Melo and Rose) who are both on the decline of their careers; they both have dealt with injuries, and more importantly, they both dominate the ball. Neither Rose nor Melo are elite defenders, and often get lost on the defensive end. This is not what runner-up in the rookie of the year voting, Kristaps Porzingis, needs. By acquiring Rose, the Knicks in essence take shots away from Porzingis, instead of building their offense around the 20-year-old.
Chicago Bulls - January 23, 2016
Knicks fans all over Twitter and social media are already loving this trade. Does it make the Knicks better in the short-term? Yes. But long-term, it is not a good deal. They now have two aging players who will dominate the ball and not play defense. The Knicks will be talented enough to make the playoffs next year, and that is a step in the right direction. But shouldn’t it be about building a championship team? The Cleveland Cavaliers aren’t going anywhere, and teams like Boston and cellar-dweller Philadelphia are younger and more athletic.
I have watched Rose and Melo’s game deteriorate over the years. If these two former all-stars don’t pass the torch over to Porzingis, and let him be the focal point of the offense,  the Knicks won’t be a legitimate contender. They both need to take a page out of players like Dwyane Wade and Tim Duncan’s book; let the younger players grow and evolve.
For more from Monte Perez, follow The Sports Whisperer on Twitter @Montetjwitter11, and listen to the Monte Cristo Sports Thing on WRNJ Radio.


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