NBA Trade Grades: Derrick Rose traded for Dennis Smith Jr.

Dec 13, 2020; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Pistons guard Derrick Rose (25) gets defended by New York Knicks guard Alec Burks (18) during the third quarter at Little Caesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 13, 2020; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Pistons guard Derrick Rose (25) gets defended by New York Knicks guard Alec Burks (18) during the third quarter at Little Caesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports
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NBA trade grades, Derrick Rose
NBA trade grades, Derrick Rose Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports

Grading this deal for the Detroit Pistons

The Detroit Pistons were nearing an important deadline for Derrick Rose. They had gotten him for a favorable price in the 2019 offseason, signing him to a two-year, $15 million contract, and the clock was running.

He’s a player that is always in demand thanks to his MVP pedigree and the fact that he’s beloved in just about every NBA locker room, and his presence on this Pistons team wasn’t consistent with the trajectory of their rebuild. And thanks to a rejuvenating season last year, his play boosted his trade value as well.

Derrick Rose also tends to be injury-prone, and every game that he played involved a risk-reward balancing act. You can play him and he can play well and boost his value further, or he can play poorly and hinder it, or he can sprain an ankle or other such injury and completely scuttle it.

As a result, getting him on the move sooner than later was imperative, and the Detroit Pistons knew it. This deal with the Knicks for Dennis Smith Jr. and undetermined draft assets is a suitable deal. Smith doesn’t fit the description of a good NBA player currently, having played just three games this season, but the Pistons can afford to take a cheap flyer on him.

Like Rose, Smith’s contract expires at the end of this year, but he can probably be re-signed for a bargain if he plays his way back into the mix for them. Or, maybe he doesn’t, and they lose him for nothing. The Hornets pick that they receive for Rose isn’t going anywhere, and it’s the clear value element of this for the Pistons.

All in all, getting something for Rose is a win, and the Detroit Pistons accomplished just that.

Grade: B+