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NBA Trades: Chicago Bulls Trade Derrick Rose To New York Knicks As Part Of Blockbuster Deal

By Jason Fletcher
Published on: 08:23 PST, Jun 22, 2016

All-Star point guard Derrick Rose is headed to “The Big Apple” as part of a blockbuster trade that went down on Wednesday afternoon. According to the Vertical, the Chicago Bulls have agreed to send Rose to the New York Knicks as part of a deal that involves Robin Lopez, Jerian Grant, and Jose Calderon heading back to the Bulls.

In addition to Rose, the Knicks will also receive swingman Justin Holiday and a 2017 second-round pick.

The move makes a lot of sense for both sides which is something that doesn’t always happen in the NBA. The Knicks have been in desperate search of a playmaker at point guard for quite some time, but have failed to find the right fit. Team president Phil Jackson could feel the pressure mounting to get the Knicks to the playoffs and adding Rose to the equation gets the team that much closer.

For the Bulls, the organization is looking to reshape the roster following a disappointing 2015-16 season that saw the team miss the playoffs for the first time since the 2007-08 season. Big man Pau Gasol is a free agent and the Bulls have been rumored to be shopping both Jimmy Butler and Derrick Rose for some time now.

Lopez gives the Bulls a much-needed rim protector as the team was one of the worst in the league against opposing centers last season. While he does struggle with foul trouble and isn’t a consistent option on the offensive end, he will provide some defensive assistance to the Bulls.

Grant was likely the centerpiece of this deal from the Bulls’ point of view. While he was only given 16.6 minutes per game last season while with the Knicks, Grant showed the ability to be a playmaker from the point guard position. He can create, distribute, and knock down the outside shot, and is considered to be a solid defender. At 23 years old, Grant offers much more upside than the soon-to-be 28-year-old Rose.

As for Rose, this deal should come as a welcomed change of scenery. According to ESPN‘s Chris Broussard, Derrick Rose is excited about the trade.

“His (Rose) 1st choice was New York (if traded),” a source told Broussard. “He wants the spotlight.”

The former University of Memphis star quickly endeared himself to Bulls fans as he became one of the top players in the league within a couple of seasons. Unfortunately, Derrick couldn’t avoid the injury bug, and the fans quickly soured on him for missing so much time.

Derrick Rose hasn’t been the same player since suffering those injuries. Last season, Rose averaged 16.4 points, 4.7 assists, and 3.4 rebounds in 66 games for the Bulls. It was the most games he’s played in one season since the 2010-11 season, when he played 81 of a possible 82 games.

Despite staying a little healthier, Derrick Rose still only shot 42.7 percent from the field and 29.3 percent from the three-point line as the Bulls finished with a 42-40 record and finished two games behind the Detroit Pistons for the final spot in the Eastern Conference.

Heading to New York will give Derrick the chance to earn the trust of a new fan base. The Knicks are looking to get back to the playoffs for the first time since the 2012-13 season, and if Rose becomes the guy that pushes the organization over the top, then he will instantly be back in good graces.

Although the Eastern Conference improved in 2015-16, the Knicks should be in prime position to become a playoff team with Rose, Kristaps Porzingis, and Carmelo Anthony. It’ll be interesting to see if Jackson is done making splash moves or if the Derrick Rose trade is just the first of many changes for the Knicks this offseason.

[Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images]

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