Derrick Rose and the New York Knicks seemed destined for divorce as soon as the 2016-17 regular season ended. But just in case there was any doubt, the 2010-11 MVP quashed a potential return once the ‘Bockers drafted Frank Ntilikina and gave a four-year deal to Tim Hardaway Jr.
From the New York Post‘s Marc Berman:
In the end, Knicks president Steve Mills may have been tipped Rose had lost interest, too. Rose crossed the Knicks off his list after point-guard-of-the-future Ntilikina was drafted and almost all of their cap space was spent on Tim Hardaway Jr. — making a clear commitment to rebuild.
Derrick Rose doesn’t speak French and wanted no part of mentoring.
“Did we miss something?,” Rose’s agent B.J. Armstrong asked The Post. “Is there something going [on] in New York we didn’t see? We all would agree they are on a different timeline than Derrick — a young team with great young talent there and trying to build something for the future. They’re not on the same timeline as players who are a little older and experienced.
“It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out Derrick’s best basketball is right now. The Knicks aren’t ready to compete at that level right now. It could be three, four years.”
So, like, yeah. The Knicks no doubt weren’t as appealing to Rose after they selected Ntilikina, but Hardaway’s addition was likely the nail in the coffin. Signing him meant renouncing Rose, which in turn meant he wouldn’t be getting more money to stay, which in turn gave him little incentive to re-sign, which in turn left him free to sign with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Rose’s camp is now free to spin this in the point guard’s favor. He wanted to win! He could have signed with the Los Angeles Lakers (probably), but he didn’t! Because he wants to win! That’s why he’s not with the Knicks anymore! Winning!
But let’s be real: The market for Rose wasn’t even kind of aggressive. He’s coming off yet another knee injury and, in today’s NBA, has one marketable skill: drives to the basket. If the Knicks had retained his rights and offered him anything more than the veteran’s minimum, there’s a solid chance he’d still be in New York.
Alas, we’ll never know, because that didn’t happen. Rose is now in Cleveland, on the fast track to the NBA Finals, set to begin his life as a second-string floor general.
