NY Knicks: 3 Players Who Will Benefit from the Return of Derrick Rose

The midseason trade for Derrick Rose ended up being an absolute steal for Team President Leon Rose and the rest of the NY Knicks front office.

They gave up struggling youngster Dennis Smith Jr. and the 42nd pick in the draft for the former league MVP, who easily paid dividends.

Rose averaged 14.9 points and 4.2 assists per game off the bench, doing so on incredible 49-41-88 shooting splits.

He performed well enough to finish third in the 6th Man of the Year voting despite appearing in just 35 games and dealing with an extended leave due to a positive COVID-19 case.

Derrick Rose’s return should benefit several players on the NY Knicks

The Knicks had a record of 24-11 in games that Rose appeared in, going just 17-20 in contests where he wasn’t available to suit up.

It was a no-brainer for New York to bring back Rose once he hit free agency this summer, and they did exactly that with a 3-year, $43 million deal (final year team option).

He’ll have the opportunity to go through a full offseason and training camp to develop even more familiarity with his teammates and coaching staff.

While it’s already clear that Rose can elevate the success of those surrounding him, there are some Knicks players that stand to benefit even more than others.

Here are 3 teammates who should reap the rewards of playing alongside the three-time All-Star.