Detroit Pistons: Grades for the Derrick Rose trade for Dennis Smith Jr.
![Dennis Smith Jr. #4 of the New York Knicks defends against Derrick Rose #25 of the Detroit Pistons (Photo by Dave Reginek/Getty Images) Dennis Smith Jr. #4 of the New York Knicks defends against Derrick Rose #25 of the Detroit Pistons (Photo by Dave Reginek/Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/836daf00cd59b8094c0fc7cedd600cae7ff85e12fedd56f504b75df702a14081.jpg)
Detroit Pistons: Grade for Knicks in Derrick Rose trade
The biggest question I have for the New York Knicks is why?
Sure, the Knicks are in the thick of the playoff hunt in the East, which doesn’t mean they aren’t bad because they are. And no, they didn’t give up much of anything to get him.
But they are three games under .500, so hardly contenders and it’s not as if Derrick Rose is going to get them to the Finals.
At most, the Knicks will probably tread water, maybe climb a spot or two and get wiped out in the first round of the playoffs, which isn’t much of a ceiling.
Rose hasn’t been particularly good this year but that won’t stop him from getting up shots and taking minutes from the Knicks’ young guys, something Pistons’ fans know all too well.
The Knicks have a guy in Immanuel Quickley who has arguably been better than Rose this season and might find himself losing minutes as Tom Thibodeau plays the veteran in an effort to win now.
The Knicks didn’t give up anything of value, as Smith Jr. was in the G-League but they probably didn’t make their team any better and may end up blocking their promising rookie.
All for Derrick Rose?
GRADE: D