Knicks need to keep Derrick Rose next season: Derrick Rose has really found new life with the New York Knicks, as he has averaged 15.1 points and 4.3 assists in 33 games with the Knicks.
Rose has been particularly huge as of late, averaging 22.0 points on nearly 60 percent from the floor in the month of May while also dishing out 4.8 dimes.
The former MVP has found new life during his second stint in “The Big Apple,” as he’s reunited with coach Tom Thibodeau for the third time in his career and is really starting to come into his own as one of the better guards in the league again.
While the Knicks ended up losing a close game to the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday night, Rose helped keep New York in the game down the stretch, as he applied full court pressure on Talen Horton-Tucker and eventually forced him into a turnover with the Knicks up by one with a minute left in overtime.
It’s that type of effort and defensive awareness that has endeared himself into the hearts of Knicks fans, but what has also endeared himself into the hearts of Knicks fans is his overall ability to stick to his strengths and perform at a very high level.
Although he’s been primarily coming off the bench, the minutes he gives off the bench are very effective. He’s been great at creating his own shot and getting shots close to the rim, as he’s shooting 52.9 percent on pull-up 2-pointers and 49.4 percent on shots within 10 feet. Over 75 percent of his overall shot attempts come from those two types of looks, so he’s being really effective and making the absolute most of his touches with the ball.
In New York, people always love a good story, and considering what Rose has been through in his career and life, it’s amazing to see how he’s been able to bounce back on a Knicks team that’s generating the most excitement since 2013. He’s also willing to come off the bench and play whatever minutes are given to him, so it’s not like he’ll impede the development of other young players that come through the Knicks organization.
The only way the Knicks should consider letting Rose walk is if they’re able to land one of Damian Lillard, Chris Paul or Kyle Lowry this offseason, as all three guys would command top dollars and the bulk of playing time at the guard position. But even in that case, you try to hold onto Rose as much as you can.
Sustainable winning situations require continuity, and Rose has established himself as an integral part of a team that hopes to build a special team for years to come with Julius Randle being the featured star. This is also the best situation for Rose, as he has the right mentor in Thibodeau to guide him. Unless the Knicks strike gold this offseason, it’s reasonable to expect Rose back in New York next season.
