After weeks of speculation, it appears the Detroit Pistons are finally going to trade Derrick Rose to the New York Knicks.
The news was first reported by Shams Charania of the Athletic:
Knicks are engaged in talks to acquire Derrick Rose, other teams also interested, with the Pistons and Rose agreeing that a trade elsewhere would be best for both sides, sources tell me and @JLEdwardsIII.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 7, 2021
Story: https://t.co/jjSxsAfHjB
The Knicks have long been rumored to be interested in Derrick Rose in a trade. They are sniffing the playoffs for the first time in a while and Rose could help them get there.
The Knicks are also desperate to add a splashy name, and though Derrick Rose is not what he used to be, he will still bring fans and interest.
But what could the Detroit Pistons get from the New York Knicks in a Derrick Rose trade? Here are three scenarios.
Detroit Pistons: Trading Derrick Rose to the Knicks for a draft pick
The New York Knicks have the cap space to absorb Derrick Rose’s contract without sending out money. If the Detroit Pistons aren’t interested in a player, then one pick would do it.
This trade was a lot more likely to happen before Dallas went south, as it was viewed as a late first-rounder and could now be in the lottery.
The Knicks would not likely want to give this pick up in a loaded draft, especially if the Detroit Pistons aren’t going to take any of their dead weight off their hands in exchange.
This would be ideal for Detroit, as they wouldn’t have to take on any future salary and get a first-round pick.
If this were to happen, the Knicks would likely put heavy protections on the pick to ensure it was conveyed in the 20’s and not the lottery.
Detroit Pistons: Trading Derrick Rose to the New York Knicks
Another option would be if the Pistons took back a contract to clear some cap space for the Knicks and got the same pick for their troubles.
The Knicks have three players (Dennis Smith Jr., Frank Ntilikina, Kevin Knox) who are out of the rotation and may interest Detroit. The Knicks would love to have any of these guys off their books:
In this trade, the Detroit Pistons take back Dennis Smith Jr. a guy who is out of the rotation and recently requested to be sent to the G-League.
He is making $5.6 million so getting rid of him could clear some additional cap space for the Knicks to make moves.
The Pistons get the same Dallas pick but with top-20 protections.
The Knicks get their bench scorer, a big name and a guy Tom Thibodeau loves in exchange.
Detroit Pistons: Most realistic trade package for Derrick Rose
The Pistons aren’t likely to get a first-round pick for Rose unless it has a lot of protections, so they are more likely to get a project player and a 2nd-round pick.
But they might be able to get a player with some upside:
In this trade, the Pistons take back guard Frank Ntilikina, a former lottery pick who is still only 22-years-old and has some upside.
He could likely get minutes off the Pistons’ bench, and if not, he can walk after this season. The Detroit Pistons would have a chance to try him out to see if he could be part of the future.
They’d also get two of the Knicks’ myriad future second-round picks, which would help Detroit recoup the ones they lost in the Kennard trade.
Unfortunately, Derrick Rose is not the trade asset he once was and is not likely to get the Pistons’ a first-round pick, but a project player and two seconds wouldn’t be a bad haul.