Knicks Rumors: Five Reasons To Love The Derrick Rose Trade

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Mar 24, 2016; New York, NY, USA; Chicago Bulls guard Derrick Rose (1) shoots the ball past New York Knicks center Robin Lopez (8) during second half at Madison Square Garden. The Knicks won 106-94. Mandatory Credit: Noah K. Murray-USA TODAY Sports /

4. Acceptable Cost

Robin Lopez is one of the better two-way centers in the NBA, and his mere presence has helped Kristaps Porzingis improve as a player. Jerian Grant has a bright future as a potential starter in the NBA, and Jose Calderon is a great locker room presence.

All things considered, that is well below the expected cost for Derrick Rose.

Lopez is a tough player to lose, but the 2016 free agent market is flush with high-quality—and even star-caliber—centers. Furthermore, Porzingis projects as a center in the long-term, and Lopez’s departure opens the door for the 20-year-old to spend more minutes at the 5.

Lopez will be missed, but Rose’s ceiling is high enough to justify the move.

As for Grant, he has potential at point guard, but one can only dream that he’ll become the player that Rose is and was. Even if this move doesn’t work out, and Grant does develop into a star, it’d be a risk work taking.

For the icing on the proverbial cake, New York now projects to have significantly more cap space in 2017 than it would’ve before this trade.

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