Derrick Rose is a hell of an idea.
We know this is the case, because just hearing his name, it’s impossible not to conjure up the image of the player who once was. The three-time NBA All-Star. The youngest MVP in league history. The Chicago product who seemed, finally, poised to provide the Bulls their first generational superstar since the departure of Michael Jordan.
There’s no denying that Derrick Rose is probably on the brain of every long-suffering Knicks fan today. And why not? A relentless, athletic, fearless guard with the ability to get to the basket against even the best of defenders? Those players just don’t become available all that often.
And what better landing spot than the New York Knicks, also among the best ideas in the sport. Everyone in and around the game knows the mythology, of course. It’s the Mecca Of Basketball, the World’s Most Famous Arena. It’s where Bradley, DeBusschere, and Earl the Pearl captured championships. It’s where Willis Reed inspired with his return, and Walt “Clyde” Frasier continues to innovate… with a wide variety of prints and fabrics. From Rucker Park to the Globetrotters to “The Cage,” New York is a city so rich in hoops history that stars should flock to Gotham, grateful for the chance to perform on the biggest stage.
https://twitter.com/nyknicks/status/745807045236924417
But sometimes, much to the chagrin of the Knicks, and their newly acquired point guard, putting those once great ideas into practice can prove quite difficult. For Rose, the difficulty is fairly easy to understand. Once one of the most explosive players in the league, things have never been quite the same after a 2012 ACL tear in the playoffs, and the cascade of injuries that followed.
The past couple years have been something of a mixed bag for Rose, who’s at least been able to stay on the floor again, to the tune of 117 games over the past two seasons. But given a shooting percentage mired in the low 40 percent range, falling assist totals and declining defense, Rose has, essentially, become a replacement level combo-guard, the memory of that spectacular MVP season seeming further and further away. It’s a harsh fate for a player who’s only “mistake” was getting hurt in the first place, and it serves as a reminder that the game can be forever cruel, no matter how extensive one’s talent.
Of course, fans of the New York Knicks need no such reminder. They’ve been suffering for, oh, about 16 seasons now, with exactly one playoff series victory in that span. The cycle of failure, at this point, is as familiar as it is frustrating. Too impatient to ever undergo a proper rebuild, this is a franchise forever in search of a shortcut. The end result is a series of big name players (Starbury! Stoudemire! Carmelo!) who are never surrounded with a proper supporting cast, and highly dubious acquisitions (Eddy Curry! Jerome James! Bargnani!) who compromise the team’s future and flexibility.
Everything that anyone need to know about the Knicks long-term strategy, or lack thereof, is demonstrated by the fact that once again, on Thursday night, the team will be without its first-round pick in the NBA Draft. It’s the fourth time in the last seven years that this perennial bottom-dweller of a basketball team will be without the only reward for their ineptitude.
Derrick Rose blocks Kyle Lowry on one end, then takes it all the way and scores on the other end.https://t.co/Z34JN8McWV
— ✶ Ⓜ️𝕒𝕣𝕔𝕦𝕤 ▶️ ✶ (@_MarcusD_) June 22, 2016
It’d be understandable, therefore, and not at all unfounded, to see the Knicks’ trade for Derrick Rose as yet another example of the team putting name recognition ahead of team building, of looking for the quick fix, rather than the long-term solution. And indeed, there’s plenty of reason to question whether this particular deal actually makes the Knicks a stronger team moving forward.
Robin Lopez, though he may lack star power, has developed into an effective, reliable center, one who, by handling things defensively in the low blocks, played an important role in the success of rookie sensation Kristaps Porzingis. And while few Knicks fans will miss Jose Calderon’s turnstile defense, Jerian Grant, at just 23 years old, still has the potential to develop into a useful backcourt rotation player. All of which is to say, it’s not entirely clear how the Knicks got better through this deal, and given the legitimate questions about how ball-dominant players like Rose and Carmelo Anthony will mesh offensively, next season could be quite the mad science project indeed.
But here’s one welcome piece of news for the MSG faithful. Unlike the team’s previous big ticket splurges, this one, at the very least, doesn’t threaten the team’s long-term maneuverability.
Derrick Rose has just one year and $21 million remaining on his contract, meaning the Knicks have the ability to exercise discretion on this single-season rental. Should Rose improve in his contract year and regain even some of his All-Star form, New York can decide to compensate him accordingly. But if poor shooting and so-so playmaking is simply the new normal, they’ll have the ability to walk away. In fact, given that only three players (Anthony, Porzingis, and Kyle O’Quinn) are under contract for the 2017-18 season, the team will actually have the ability to hand out multiple max deals in the years ahead.
Of course, expecting the Knicks to spend their money wisely is a bit like asking J.R. Smith to keep his shirt on. Sure, it might happen! But you’re probably better off not counting on it. Already, rumors are flying that the team may use its cap space to target Pau Gasol, Joakim Noah, or a max deal for Dwight Howard. If you noticed the one thing all these players have in common is that they are decidedly past their prime… congratulations! You are now eligible to work in the Knicks front office! (You may also qualify by purchasing a copy of JD and the Straight Shot’s latest album. Only $5.12 on vinyl!)
Welcome to the #Knicks, @drose. pic.twitter.com/CVQfJfzThK
— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) June 23, 2016
So where does that leave us? Well, it turns out that the wisdom of the Derrick Rose deal may turn entirely on what exactly the Knicks “big idea” really is.
If this is, in fact, yet another instance of the organization being seduced by star power, looking for the easy answer, and trying to build an All-Star team that’s about five years past its prime, well, then it’s safe to say New York is in for more of the same. Derrick Rose, as uncomfortable as it may be to acknowledge, has given every indication that at this point in his career, he’s more placeholder than game-changer. Building around him and Anthony, when both are on the decline, is a sure way to repeat the same tired refrain.
If, on the other hand, the Knicks see things differently, if they actually envision Derrick Rose as a big splashy name with which to camouflage their reconstruction, well, then it’s actually possible they might be onto something. After all, we’ve all heard the familiar and rather preposterous notion that it’s impossible to rebuild in New York. (Someone tell that to the fans who’ve been watching an unintentional tank for nearly two decades now.)
The Knicks aren’t likely to be any good next season, but with the addition of Rose, they’ll at least be interesting. And given that, saints be praised, the team actually still controls its 2017 draft pick, a season of compelling mediocrity may actually be the best case scenario. Could it be, that a fading star like Derrick Rose provides exactly the cover the Knicks need to accomplish what should be their real goal, building around Kristaps Porzingis and preparing for the future?
Sure, that’s probably a pipe dream. But what can I say? Sometimes you’ve just got to cling to an idea.
