Entering his fourth season as the Knicks’ President of Basketball Operations, Leon Rose has already brought New York more success than it’s seen in over a decade, with two playoff appearances and one playoff series win.
While there’s certainly a lot more to look forward to in the future, it’s important to look back on the most consequential moves of Rose’s tenure so far, regardless of whether or not their impact was positive. Here are the three best and worst moves Leon Rose has made during his tenure as Knicks president.
Worst Move #3: Trading for Cam Reddish
The Knicks traded for Reddish in mid-January of the 2021-22 season, giving up Kevin Knox, Solomon Hill, and a protected Hornets first-round pick in exchange. Reddish had been stuck in a crowded wing rotation with the Atlanta Hawks and was hoping to receive a fresh start elsewhere. However, New York turned out to be anything but.
Immediately, Reddish struggled to find a consistent role in the rotation, only logging 14 minutes per game in the 15 games he played with the team before suffering an injury that kept him out for the rest of the season.
Reddish returned the next year with an improved role, mostly coming off the bench with a few starts sprinkled in. He showed glimpses of what he could do with more opportunity, scoring 22 points on 9-15 shooting along with five rebounds and three steals on opening night. However, Reddish failed to bring this level of effort and production consistently, leading to his eventual departure after months of watching from the sidelines.
Ultimately, the Knicks took a flyer on Reddish, giving up little value for the potential of a contributing player. It simply didn’t work out, not causing too much harm to the franchise. However, Reddish did end up being traded for one of New York’s most important players in a move to Portland.