The Detroit Pistons signed former MVP Derrick Rose to a two-year deal. Here is what can be expected from the veteran guard and his role with the team.
Derrick Rose‘s signing with the Detroit Pistons has been the buzz of the Pistons offseason. The former league MVP is on the roster for two years, costing only $15 million. A strong sixth man for the Minnesota Timberwolves last season, Rose will look to reprise that role with Detroit.
This is the fifth Detroit Pistons 2019-20 preview, Piston Powered’s August feature that takes a look at what each player brings to the roster and sets expectations for the upcoming season.
Now, this article won’t be a 2,300-word open letter like my colleague Ku Khahil wrote. But it will discuss what is to be expected from Rose. An enigma that has since fallen due to one of the worst injury histories of any superstar-caliber player.
A hometown hero in Chicago, Rose was once expected to remain there for his long career. Back in reality, he’s bounced around quite a bit since the Bulls traded him. He’s played with the New York Knicks, the Cleveland Cavaliers, was traded to the Utah Jazz who waived him and just wrapped up his most successful season in recent memory with the Timberwolves.
Now, with Rose, there are a lot of issues surrounding Rose, both on and off the court. On the court, Rose brings a lot of positivity to the roster in terms of depth, lineups, and playmaking.
Rose will be the replacement of Ish Smith who was the backup point guard, and sometimes starter, for the last three seasons and a strong fan favorite. Smith averaged 9.8 points and 4.5 assists per game across those three years with the Pistons. I’m fairly certain that barring any significant hiccup that Rose will be able to increase those numbers at the backup position.
That being said, it’s important to know the type of player Rose has been since his MVP season. The Pistons aren’t getting the same player as the highlight video posted above. With Cleveland and the Knicks, he looked so far removed from that player.
The Timberwolves helped him get some of that groove back and the Pistons hope that he maintains that.