The New York Knicks had reason to be optimistic about the upcoming season when they added Derrick Rose to the roster, but it may be some time before Rose is able to join the team due to an ongoing sexual assault civil case in Los Angeles. While he sorts through his legal issues, the Knicks are considering sending an assistant coach out to LA to work on getting him ready to join the team when possible.
“Our hope was that he would be done on Monday or Tuesday and maybe be back,” Knicks coach Jeff Hornacek said after practice Thursday, according to Newsday. “That’s why we’re kind of trying to hold off. We might get the word he’ll be back Friday night. If we get a word that it’s definitely going to be next week, then we’ll look to send someone out there.”
Who would get the trip to LA remains uncertain for now, largely because there is no need to rush to such a decision just yet.
Hornacek is checking in with his big offseason acquisition when possible, just to make sure everything is going as smoothly as possible. The coach trusts Rose will be in good shape, but getting him adjusted to the style of play Hornacek will want to run will be the focus in the meantime.
“I’m just talking to him in general terms of how he’s doing,” Hornacek said. “I’m not giving him any advice on that stuff. We’re just kind of talking about our team and maybe what happened in the game. Basically, just how’s it going? And seeing if he’s staying in bright spirits. He seems OK with that. He tells me he’s waiting to get back here and he wants to get with the guys. So it’s just kind of friendly talk.”
For Rose, basketball should be down the list of concerns for right now, because a sexual assault allegation is no small thing. That perspective doesn’t seem to be quite clear to everyone.
Carmelo on Rose: "If I was (Hornacek) I’d be calling Derrick and telling him, ‘Hurry up. Figure it out and hurry up back.' " https://t.co/ouu1N0cFZd
— Al Iannazzone (@Al_Iannazzone) October 14, 2016
That’s not how court cases work, Carmelo.
[Newsday]