2019 NBA free agency tracker: Grades for every deal so far
Derrick Rose: 2 years, $15 million (Detroit Pistons)
Free agent guard Derrick Rose has agreed to a two-year, $15M deal to join the Detroit Pistons, league sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 30, 2019
Coming off the best season of his career since injuries threw it off course in the first place, Derrick Rose is a solid on-court fit for the Detroit Pistons. They needed a backup point guard to replace unrestricted free agent Ish Smith, and for a team that lacked creators outside of Blake Griffin, Rose’s ability to penetrate and create looks will help.
Last year with the Minnesota Timberwolves, Rose posted 18.0 points and 4.3 assists per game on .482/.370/.856 shooting splits. While he missed 31 games and probably won’t challenge Reggie Jackson for the starting role, D-Rose represents a contingency plan for when Jackson’s deal comes off the books in 2020.
Rose dramatically improved as a shooter last season and can create in isolation, and his contract is a perfectly manageable, short-term deal that doesn’t even take up the full non-taxpayer mid-level exception.
Grade: B-