NBA Trade Rumor: Pistons, Derrick Rose agree trade is needed, Knicks a likely landing spot

The Detroit Pistons and Derrick Rose have mutually agreed it would be best to move Rose to a potential contender with the New York Knicks one of the most likely destinations, according to James Edwards and Shams Charania of The Athletic.

Rose has not played in Detroit’s last two games, and he might sit out until a deal is consummated. While a deal with the Knicks has a high potential of getting done, they are not the only franchise interested in Rose, according to The Athletic.

The Pistons are losing and leadership has indicated to Rose that they are more, not less, likely to lean on young players going forward. That includes the potential return of point guard Killian Hayes, who is out with a hip injury, as well as fellow rookie Saben Lee and two-way player Frank Jackson.

Veteran Delon Wright has been holding down the starting point guard spot so there are only so many reserve minutes available for all the young players.

A trade to the Knicks would reunite Rose with the coach he experienced his most success including his incredibly MVP run with Tom Thibodeau. The Clippers have also expressed interest in Rose, according to The Athletic.

Rose is averaging 14.2 points, 4.2 assists and 1.9 assists this season, but he is more prone to look for his own offense and hasn’t always been able to help the young reserve players get involved in the offense.

As far as what the Knicks could send in return, they would not be required to send salary back because they have enough room under the cap to absorb Rose’s expiring $7 million salary.

Some expendable Knicks players include point guard Elfrid Payton, whose playing time would be cut into severely with the addition of Rose and the presumed ascension of rookie Immanuel Quickley.

Also, just to be clear, I don’t see any way Quickley is on the table for Rose. Or at least he shouldn’t be from the Knicks perspective.

The Knicks are also likely desperate to have someone take Dennis Smith Jr. off their hands and I’m not sure how much they want to continue their dalliance with either Kevin Knox or Frank Ntilikina.

As far as picks, which I imagine most intrigue the Pistons. The most obvious match would be New York sending Detroit back its own 2021 second-round pick, sent out as part of the old Khyri Thomas trade.

Detroit is bad and that pick could be as high as 31. New York also has two first-round picks in the next draft — their own and the potentially surprisingly valuable Dallas Mavericks pick. I’d imagine neither of those could be dislodged for a half-season rental of Rose. They also have Charlotte’s second-round pick.

What do you think? What trade makes the most sense for Rose?