The New York Knicks are bringing another one of their own free agents back, agreeing to a three-year deal with Derrick Rose.
The New York Knicks have been active within the first couple hours of 2021 NBA free agency. Although it doesn’t seem like there will be any big fish to be found with Chris Paul agreeing to re-sign with the Phoenix Suns and Kawhi Leonard expected to remain with the LA Clippers, the Knicks have been busy bringing back as much of last year’s surprising team as possible.
Earlier on Monday, reports surfaced that New York had agreed to re-sign Alec Burks to a three-year, $30 million deal, as well as Nerlens Noel to a three-year, $32 million deal. The four-year, $78 million pact for Evan Fournier is a questionable move, but the Knicks are now bringing back one of their most important free agents as well.
According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the Knicks have agreed to re-sign Derrick Rose to a three-year, $43 million contract. Given that the Knickerbockers are still coached by Tom Thibodeau, you just knew this one was coming.
Derrick Rose will remain with Knicks for the foreseeable future
Although it’s easy to make the Thibs jokes about yet another reunion with his former Chicago Bulls star, Rose was a burst of energy off the bench for the Knicks last season after being traded from the Detroit Pistons to the Big Apple. Averaging 14.9 points and 4.2 assists in 26.8 minutes per game, Rose was a leading Sixth Man of the Year candidate and eventually took over the starting job in the playoffs for the ineffective Elfrid Payton.
Knicks fans will be happy to see Rose back for the next few seasons, especially since his most productive days — in Chicago, New York and with the Minnesota Timberwolves — have always come on Thibodeau-led teams.
New York should probably try and lock down an actual starting point guard and keep Rose in his sixth man role, but if worse comes to worst, they’ll at least have one effective guard to work with at the 1-spot.