Derrick Rose was traded from the Bulls to the Knicks on Wednesday, and neither fan base is particularly happy about it. Seth Rosenthal (a Knicks fan) and Ricky O’Donnell (a Bulls fan) tried to talk out their feelings.
Nobody wins in the Derrick Rose trade
At least Bulls fans can move on? At least the Knicks didn’t give up a first-round pick? That’s all either side has at this point.
Seth: Hi Ricky, I’m sad. I think you’re sad, too. We’re both sad. Tell me why you’re sad.
Ricky: Man. You wouldn’t understand. Derrick Rose is Chicago. I still remember reading about him as a high school player, this kid who was so fast and so strong the newspapers made him sound like a tall tale. The day the Bulls won the draft lottery with a 1.7 percent chance of getting the No. 1 pick was literally my happiest day as a sports fan. It all seemed too good to be true. Everything that’s happened since has really only confirmed that it was.
His rise as the youngest MVP in league history. The injuries that robbed him of everything that made him special. The way he divided this city between people who cherished what he represented and people who believed he acted entitled and ungrateful toward the organization.
Derrick Rose is my favorite athlete ever and I’m going to miss him so much. I might be a little more emotional than you are about Robin Lopez.
Seth: You’re definitely more emotional than I am, and I get it. If and when you get over that emotion, you should be really happy. As someone who shares none of the sentiment for Rose — totally understands, but doesn’t share — I’m just over here wondering why the Knicks had to give up a very useful two-way player for a guy on an expiring contract who, even in a relatively healthy season, wasn’t doing much with much efficiency.
Is that an overstatement of Rose’s struggles last season? I saw a guy who’d regained some bounce, and who improved toward the end of the season, but whose virtues as an attacker were blunted, and whose numbers were pretty gross.
Ricky: I agree the Bulls got a nice return. Their defense was an abomination last year after Joakim Noah’s season-ending injury, so Lopez’s presence will be appreciated there. I liked Jerian Grant in last season’s draft and still think he can turn into a nice player. It’s hard to imagine the Bulls getting a better offer elsewhere. I guess it’s not all bad.
I do think Rose can still be solid for your guys. He looked noticeably better after Christmas, when he averaged 18 points per game on 45.5 percent shooting. I’m gonna hit you with some optimism bullet points:
- The Knicks’ point guards were a disaster last season. The free agent point guards aren’t a particularly inspiring crop this summer, either. On his best nights, Rose is going to be a dramatic upgrade over what you were getting. None of New York’s point guards last year had a prayer of matching Rose’s athleticism and physicality on when he’s on his game.
- The big question for the Knicks going forward is who they’re going to pair with Kristaps Porzingis in the front court. Robin Lopez wasn’t the long-term answer. This trade conceivably moves Kristaps to the five, the position he has to be playing with the way the league is trending, and lets the Knicks experiment with more athletic and versatile players at the four.
- Rose has all the motivation in the world coming into this season. His contract expires next summer just as the salary cap reaches its apex. It stands to reason he could be in for a huge payday with a bounce-back year.
There are worse bets to make than Derrick Rose on a one-year contract. If nothing else, the Knicks are going to have a lot of money next offseason. Does any of this do anything for you?
Seth: I think those were all optimism bullet points for me before this trade, and would be just as optimistic and bullet-pointy if the Knicks had dealt Lopez for a pick or a young player or, like, nothing.
- Yes, disastrous point guards. As long as Rose plays, even poorly, he will be superior to the Knicks’ combined corps last season. For one year. After which he’ll either not be worth paying again or, if he’s experienced a turnaround, he’ll cost a lot of money. The Knicks would have his Bird rights, which is nice. Nice! Worth giving up a starting big man who defends well and demonstrated offensive versatility and efficiency on a reasonable contract? I don’t think so.
- I don’t know why Lopez wouldn’t be a long-term answer — the contract set-up was great, and he and Porzingis played nicely together — but the answer now, I think, is to not replace him. I’d just play shooters all around and let Melo be the other "big." No defense there, but I think going out now and spending (probably) more money on a (probably) worse or equivalent big man to Lopez would be so, so foolish.
- Yeah, I guess Rose should be motivated and could be due for a turnaround. This is also true of the previous four seasons, no?
But yeah, it’s not so much that Rose is on the Knicks. I was in favor of the Knicks trading something small for Rose, or taking him off the Bulls in addition to some valuable assets (no disrespect to Justin Holiday and a 2017 second-rounder). It’s the Knicks actually surrendering assets of value that bugs me. Do you think the Bulls could have gotten that much return from another team? I understand the Knicks needed a point guard more than anybody, but it’s not like Rose is anywhere near certain to solve that need, especially not past this season.
Ricky: I guess that settles it: everyone here is miserable. We both need to get new hobbies.
Seth: Let’s watch badminton!
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