According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the New York Knicks have reached an agreement on a trade to acquire Detroit Pistons guard Derrick Rose in exchange for Dennis Smith, Jr. and a 2021 second-round pick via the Hornets, acquired in the deal that sent Willy Hernangomez to Charlotte in 2018.

Dennis Smith, Jr., who is in his fourth year in the league, was recently assigned to the Westchester Knicks per request. The Westchester Knicks have been in Orlando gearing up for the start of the G-League season, which is taking place in a bubble. With the Pistons affiliate, the Grand Rapids Drive, opting out of the bubble, it is unknown if Smith will be called back up to join the NBA side.

This trade reunites Rose with Tom Thibodeau, who was Rose’s head coach in Chicago when he became the youngest MVP in NBA history in 2011 at age 22.

Also, with the trade, the Knicks cap space sits at $15M if they wish to make any more moves to bolster any playoff chance further.

Rose, 32, is averaging 14 points and four assists on 42 percent shooting this season off the bench. He hasn’t played since the end of January, disgruntled by the rebuild in Detroit. 

This is Rose’s second stint with the Knicks as he was a member during the 2016-17 season in which the Knicks went 31-51. Rose struggled to learn the triangle offense while the Knicks were under the poor management of Phil Jackson.

But what Knicks fans remember the most about Rose’s stint in New York was when he left the team mid-season without telling a soul and flew back to Chicago. The Knicks had no idea where he was for a game against the New Orleans Pelicans. He was fined an undisclosed amount.

This trade makes little sense on the Knicks’ side. The Knicks are a team in dire need of shooters and instead trade for a slashing guard who shoots 30.5% for his career from behind the arc.

The Knicks essentially traded for Elfrid Payton, who is not the guard this team needs.

Photo: Jim McIsaac/Getty Images

This trade can only make sense in one way: If Derrick Rose takes all of Elfrid Payton’s minutes. Another acceptable minute substitution would be if Rose takes Austin Rivers’ minutes, who has struggled all season except for two games. 

If this trade means Rose takes a second of Quickley’s minutes, Knicks fans should riot outside Madison Square Garden. The Knicks should be looking to add minutes for the rookie out of Kentucky, not adding competition.  Wojnarowski suggests that Rivers could become a trade piece for the Knicks as we inch closer to the March 25 trade deadline.

There is no way to say this in another way: this trade is questionable by the Knicks and one that is not being received well and with good reason.

UPDATE: Both the Knicks and Pistons have announced the trade, making it official. Rose will wear No. 4.

Welcome, D-Rose!
Featured Image: Jim McIsaac/Getty Images
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