Bulls Trade Derrick Rose to Knicks

On the eve of the 2016 NBA draft, the Chicago Bulls began their retooling early by making a six player trade with the New York Knicks. The Bulls dealt former Rookie of the Year and Most Valuable Player Award winner Derrick Rose, along with guard Justin Holliday and a second round pick in the 2107 draft to New York for a pair of guards, Jose Calderon and Jerian Grant, plus center Robin Lopez.

A Chicago native, Rose played college basketball at Memphis and was the overall number one pick in the 2008 NBA draft. He justified that lofty selection by averaging 16.9 points per game and 6.3 assists per game in his rookie season, and winning the league’s Rookie of the Year award. He hit his peak two years later, averaging 25 points and 7.7 assists per game, winning the NBA’s Most Valuable Player Award for the 2010-11 season.

Then the injuries started. Rose missed some games during the lockout shortened 2011-12 season due to some nagging injuries, but it took a turn for the worse in the first round of the playoffs. Rose tore his ACL, and missed the playoffs and the entire 2012-13 season. Then he played in only 10 games of the 2013-14 season before suffering a torn meniscus in his other knee. He played in 51 games in the 2014-15 season, again injuring the meniscus in his knee. Last season, he played in 66 games and averaged 16.4 points per game and 4.7 assists per game. Those aren’t bad numbers, but he’s not the elite player he once was.

Still, Rose is just 27 years old and may be able to help the Knicks at point guard, replacing the incumbent Calderon. The Knicks were just 32-50 last year, although that’s an improvement over the 17-65 of the previous season. If it doesn’t work out, Rose is in the final year of his contract and the Knicks will look elsewhere for 2017-18 without having to pay out some big bucks to get out of his contract.

Here’s a look at Rose when he’s at his best: