New York Knicks: Pros and cons of pursuing Derrick Rose trade

New York Knicks: Cons of Derrick Rose trade

One of the looming questions surrounding the New York Knicks’ reported trade interest in Derrick Rose is whether they can fit another point guard on this roster.

Between Elfrid Payton, Immanuel Quickley, Frank Ntilikina, Jared Harper, and Dennis Smith Jr., the Knicks are jam-packed at the point guard position. A deal for Rose would certainly complicate the rotation further, depending on who they packaged in a potential deal.

The Knicks must also consider the hindrance Rose could have on Quickey’s development. Rose would certainly be a great mentor for the 21-year-old, but the former MVP should not be eating away at the rookie’s minutes. The Knicks selected Quickley 25th overall in the draft, and he has proven early that he is ready to contribute right now, particularly after scoring a career-high 31 points in Sunday’s loss to the Portland Trail Blazers.

In the best-case scenario, the Knicks could package a deal centered around Elfrid Payton and draft capital to acquire Rose, allowing Quickley to slide into the starting lineup and have Rose come off the bench.

Along with the point guard rotation, another issue that Rose complicates further is the team’s already abysmal floor spacing. The Knicks are currently tied for 23rd in 3-point shooting, hitting just 34.9 percent of their shots from deep. Furthermore, they are shooting the fewest triples per game in the league at 27. This team desperately needs shooting, and Rose does not fit the bill, shooting 33.3 percent from behind the arc on 2.8 attempts per game this season.

Overall, Derrick Rose would be a solid addition for the New York Knicks, but he might create more questions for the team than he answers. If the goal is the postseason and this team genuinely feels like they can get there, maybe they give this some legitimate thought ahead of the deadline. However, they must value Immanuel Quickley first and foremost and not jeopardize his playing time.