Detroit Pistons sign Derrick Rose to two-year, $15 million deal.
The Detroit Pistons made their big free agency splash! They bring in their new backup point guard Derrick Rose to the team!
The Detroit Pistons began free agency with a decent splash as the team agreed to terms with former MVP and Rookie of the Year Derrick Rose per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. Rose, who’s bounced around from team to team after the Chicago Bulls traded him, joins the team after a short stint with the Minnesota Timberwolves where the point guard averaged 18 points-per-game on shooting splits of .48/.37/.85.
Rose’s history has been pretty public as he’s gone through a few reconstructive knee surgeries among other nagging injuries. Prior to and after joining the Timberwolves, he had an injury plagued 2017-2018 season where he played just 25 games. An injury at the end of last season limited him to just 51 games, but that was an elbow injury, so at least it wasn’t a knee.
Related Story. A Detroit Pistons trade that could move the needle.. light
What does this mean for the Pistons? A contributing point guard for the second unit. Ish Smith was and still remains a quality, serviceable backup for the Pistons, but anyone would admit that Rose is an upgrade at the position.
While Luke Kennard might be seeing more time as a starter, the pairing of Kennard and Rose off the bench could provide some substance to a unit that was 20th in the league in bench scoring for the 2019 season. A shell of his former self, though not really in his control, Rose can still provide some playmaking and scoring. His 50-point game last season for the Timberwolves was named Moment of the Year at the NBA Awards show.
Next. A Pistons Trade That Could Move The Needle. dark
He may not be the same style of player, one that wowed the crowd with electrifying dunks and smooth off-balance mid-range jump shots, Rose can still perform on the offensive side of the court. However, you won’t find any glowing praise on his defensive efforts as of late. It may not be the Derrick Rose of old, but if he brings a sliver of the talent, the Pistons got solid (offensive) contributor.