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New York Knicks: Phil Jackson must let Derrick Rose walk this summer

By Holden Walter-Warner

Mar 22, 2017; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; New York Knicks guard Derrick Rose (25) dribbles up the court during the first quarter against the Utah Jazz at Vivint Smart Home Arena. Mandatory Credit: Russ Isabella-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 22, 2017; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; New York Knicks guard Derrick Rose (25) dribbles up the court during the first quarter against the Utah Jazz at Vivint Smart Home Arena. Mandatory Credit: Russ Isabella-USA TODAY Sports /
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Derrick Rose is willing to take a pay cut in order to re-sign with the New York Knicks. Intriguing as that may be, it wouldn’t be worth the risk.

The New York Knicks love to make a free agency splash, despite having failed to do so even one time over the past few years. The one intriguing offseason move was the acquisition of point guard Derrick Rose last summer.

Now that Rose is a free agent himself, it’s time to let him go.

Keep in mind: the mercurial point guard doesn’t wish to leave. Rose’s agent, B.J. Armstrong, claimed that Rose wants to stay in New York and may even be willing to take a pay cut.

Per Yaron Weitzman of Bleacher Report:

"“Derrick loves New York and wants to be there,” Rose’s agent, B.J. Armstrong, told Bleacher Report recently. “We’ve expressed that to them and been very consistent about it. Whether it happens is on them; all we can do is be clear.”Armstrong said Rose, who underwent surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his left knee in April, is healthy and working out. He also insinuated that Rose would be willing to take a pay cut (he made $21.3 million last year).“In the end, we want to explore everything—if you’re going to compete, you clearly need a number of [top] players, so let’s figure that out,” Armstrong said. “We want the best team possible. That’s it. All the other stuff, if the team wins, everyone wins.”"

Even if a pay cut is in the cards, Rose shouldn’t be.

Rose wasn’t a bad player last year. He averaged 18.0 points and 4.4 assists per game. According to Basketball Reference, he provided his most win shares to a team in five years.

Unfortunately, Rose didn’t come without his issues. His sudden disappearance from the team in January was the first domino of many to fall against the Knicks. Then, durability became a concern once again for the former MVP, who required the fourth knee surgery of his career in April.

When Rose is at the top of his game, he can still be something special. There were flashes of the old Rose during the 2016-17 season—the one who could explode to the rim and leave defenders in a stunned state.

That version of him is more of a mirage than a certainty, though.

Frankly, the Knicks should pass on free agency altogether unless they can sign a budding star to pair with Kristaps Porzingis and whoever they selected near the top of the 2017 NBA Draft.

Must Read: 2017 NBA Mock Draft: The value of the point guard

Derrick Rose provided both cool and concerning moments in a chaotic New York Knicks season. For the team to move forward, they need to flush some of last year’s demons down the drain.