Derrick Rose is returning to the New York Knicks, where he will reunite with former head coach Tom Thibodeau. The Detroit Pistons traded the former MVP to the Knicks for an exchange of Dennis Smith Jr and a 2021 2nd round pick, announced February 8, 2021. Earlier that week, the Pistons and Rose came to a mutual agreement that a trade would be best, and multiple teams were interested in the veteran point guard, including the Clippers, Bulls, and Knicks. 

Dennis Smith Jr is averaging 3 points, 1 assist, and 1 steals per game at the moment, but don’t let the stats fool you. If you watched the 23-year-old on the Dallas Mavericks then you know he can ball and the Pistons know that. Keep in mind that he only averaged 12 minutes per game. When playing for the Knicks, he requested to go down to the g league to get some playing time. 

Derrick Rose is currently averaging 14.2 points 4.2 assist and 1.2 steals per game off of 22 minutes. When given more minutes which will most likely happen, (most likely going to start) he can average 18 like he has done the last 2 seasons which will be needed on the Knicks. Rose hasn’t played too many games this season and isn’t injured. It almost seems like he was trying to get traded with no hope in Detroit. 

Back in 2016 when Derrick Rose was traded to the Knicks, he averaged 18 points 4 assists, and 3 rebounds as the third option with Carmelo Anthony and Kristaps Porzingiz still on the team at the time with Jeff Hornacek as head coach. Rose has played on the Chicago Bulls, Minnesota Timberwolves, and now the Knicks have Thibodeau as his head coach so it’s already a familiar system.