Derrick Rose

Wolves Discuss Point Guard Swap With Knicks, Pistons

10:30 PM: The Knicks have discussed adding Ricky Rubio in talks with the Wolves, Brian Windhorst of ESPN.com reports (video link). Windhorst adds that Minnesota has had discussions with the Pistons regarding a Ricky Rubio-Reggie Jackson swap, but the Wolves are not interested in bringing Jackson aboard. A three-way trade that sends Rose to Minnesota, Rubio to Detroit and Jackson to New York could be in play, Windhorst adds. He notes that Rubio and Jackson are two of the players most likely to be traded before the deadline.

Minnesota doesn’t necessarily view Rose as a long-term fit, as the team wants to clear space for Kris Dunn and would like to get out of Rubio’s deal. The Spanish point guard has three years remaining on his contract, while Rose will be a free agent after the season.

10:14 PM: Several teams have reached out to the Knicks regarding a Derrick Rose trade, Ian Begley of ESPN.com reports. Begley adds the Wolves are among the teams to have discussions with the franchise.

It’s unclear what the Knicks would receive in return should they send Rose to Minnesota. New York acquired the point guard in the offseason with the hope that he would help the team get to the playoffs this season. The team is currently 23-34 after losing seven of their last 10 games and it appears the franchise will have a hard time achieving that goal.

Rose is averaging 17.7 points per game this season and he hasn’t missed any games because of the knee issues which plagued him over the past few years. He previously played for Wolves executive/coach Tom Thibodeau in Chicago for seven seasons.

Atlantic Notes: Jackson, Okafor, Atkinson, Ibaka, Porzingis

Knicks legend Willis Reed had an interesting take on the team’s leadership woes. The Hall of Famer suggested Phil Jackson take the helm as head coach, replacing Jeff Hornacek. 

“Unfortunately for us as Knicks fans, if Phil Jackson had been coaching all year, we would’ve won more games,’’ Reed told Marc Berman of The New York Post. “His toughness and ability to make guys concentrate, that’s what I loved about him as a coach. He got guys to play harder and smarter…He’s got a history with Kobe, Jordan and Shaquille and made them champions.”

Reed was critical of Jackson’s inability to find a suitable head coach during his run as Knicks president, citing Mike Woodson, Derek Fisher, Kurt Rambis, and Hornacek as disappointments. Jackson’s most recent season as a head coach came with the Lakers in 2010/11, in which L.A. finished with a 57-25 record.

More from the Atlantic…

  • Kevin Pelton of ESPN discussed Jahlil Okafor in a recent mailbag, calling the Pelicans the best fit for the former #3 overall pick. In the event that Okafor isn’t traded at the deadline, however, Pelton named the Bucks as a potential landing spot over the offseason. Milwaukee big man Greg Monroe may opt out of his contract, making Okafor a logical candidate to slide into his role.
  • Brian Lewis of the New York Post handed out individual grades to the 9-47 Nets. Kenny Atkinson received a B-, as the rookie head coach has done a good job of keeping his players focused despite their gaudy record. GM Sean Marks was given a C+, largely due to his inability to capitalize on Yogi Ferrell‘s potential, and wasting $4MM on Greivis Vasquez.
  • Warriors coach Steve Kerr gave props to the Celtics, saying Brad Stevens‘ squad is well-positioned for the future. “Because of the young talent, because of the coach [Brad Stevens] and because of the draft picks that they have coming up. They could end up with the number one pick in the draft, which is remarkable,” Kerr said. “Boston’s in a great place. I have a lot of respect for Brad and Danny [Ainge, Boston’s president of basketball operations] for what they’ve done and obviously, Isaiah Thomas. They’ve been a great story this year.”
  • According to Steve Kyler of Basketball Insiders, the Raptors received assurances that Serge Ibaka would re-sign after the season. Ibaka, who has yet to make his team debut, will be expected to help lift Toronto out of their recent funk- entering the All-Star break having dropped six of their last 10. As Eric Pincus of Basketball Insiders points out, if Toronto doesn’t retain Ibaka over the offseason, their cap space can expand to $21.2MM.
  • Kristaps Porzingis has struggled to get on the same page as Derrick Rose, Marc Berman of the New York Post writes. “We’re still trying to find that connection between us, where we know exactly where the guy’s going to be,’’ Porzingis said. “We have to get a really good feel for each other. That doesn’t happen overnight. We’re still trying to work on that.’’ An anonymous NBA source added fuel to the fire, observing “I don’t think Derrick is helping Porzingis’s growth, with his head down going to the basket, not really looking for him.’’

Multiple Teams View Derrick Rose As Trade Target

With the Knicks having slipped to 12th in the Eastern Conference, the team will have to decide during the All-Star break whether to look ahead to the future or to push for a playoff spot. According to Ian Begley of ESPN.com, multiple teams around the NBA view Derrick Rose as a potential trade target if the Knicks do decide to sell.

Rose, 28, isn’t the same player he was earlier in his career when he won the MVP award — as Begley writes, the veteran point guard hasn’t been all that effective as a defender or a distributor. Still, Rose has averaged 17.7 PPG with his best shooting percentage (46.2%) since 2009/10, and has shown he still excels at penetrating the lane.

While Rose may draw interest from a few teams, it would be tricky to find a deal that works for both the Knicks and a trade partner. Rose is earning more than $21.3MM this season, so over-the-cap teams looking to acquire him would have to be willing to part with one or two substantial contracts of their own. Meanwhile, the Knicks will have some cap room this summer when Rose comes off the books, so they won’t want to take back long-term salary unless they get a player that can become part of the team’s long-term plans.

Although they haven’t given up on the postseason yet, the Knicks figure to get some calls about Rose in the coming days and it would make sense for the team to listen. Phil Jackson and the front office reportedly want to build the roster around Kristaps Porzingis and Willy Hernangomez, and while Carmelo Anthony‘s no-trade clause figures to prevent the club from moving him, Rose doesn’t have that same ability to veto a deal.

Knicks Notes: Green, Dolan, Anthony, Rose

The Warriors’ Draymond Green is the latest player to suggest that the turmoil surrounding the Knicks will keep free agents away, relays Ian Begley of ESPN.com. Green was especially critical of James Dolan for last week’s altercation with Charles Oakley, saying the team owner has a “slave master mentality” toward the former player. “When you look at what’s going on now with the [Carmelo Anthony] situation in their organization and now how you do a legend in Charles Oakley, I don’t know a free agent that would want to go there,” Green said. “I don’t know someone who would really want to go there.” Green also blasted Dolan for suggesting that Oakley has a problem with drinking or anger management.

There’s more tonight out of New York:

  • Anthony offers a different opinion, saying he believes the Knicks can overcome their off-court problems and improve through free agency, relays Stefan Bondy of The New York Daily News. “I think the way the deals are structured now, even if you don’t want to come there’s an opportunity for you to make more money,” Anthony said. “A lot of times players look at that, that kind of overshadows other situations.”
  • Point guard Derrick Rose is headed toward free agency, but he says money won’t be the determining factor in where he signs his next contract, Bondy writes in a separate piece. Rose watched huge deals being handed out last offseason, but claims that isn’t what motivates him. “I always been driven by playing basketball and wanting to be the best,” he said. “… You see numbers, you can’t look over them. But I’m just happy that I have an opportunity for them to see how I perform and let them see what I’m worth.” Rose adds that he hasn’t talked to team president Phil Jackson or GM Steve Mills about a possible trade or his long-term future in New York.
  • Anthony has been chosen to replace Kevin Love in the All-Star Game, tweets Marc Stein of ESPN.com. It will be his eighth straight All-Star appearance and his 10th overall.

Knicks Notes: Anthony, Hernangomez, Noah, Oakley, Dolan

Bobby Marks of The Vertical covered the Knicks in his trade deadline preview series. The Knicks, Marks writes, are a big market team dealing with adversity (to put it lightly). Marks explains the ways in which the Knicks have limited assets on paper; both Derrick Rose and Brandon Jennings are on expiring contracts, and Courtney Lee will gain trade value over the summer, due to a weak shooting guard free agent class. Joakim Noah‘s expensive, long-term deal won’t attract suitors, and the team’s younger assets- Kristaps Porzingis and Willy Hernangomez– aren’t thought to be available.

Trading Carmelo Anthony will be a “serious challenge” for the Knicks front office, who need to decide whether Anthony’s value would grow over the offseason. Marks put together a hypothetical trade that would work financially for all parties, in which Anthony would be dealt to the Clippers in exchange for Jamal Crawford, Austin Rivers, and Wesley Johnson. Of course, any deal involving Anthony would require the nine-time All-Star waiving his no-trade clause.

More from The Mecca…

  • Magic Johnson revealed on CBS This Morning that he’s had opportunities to “run the Knicks,” according to Tania Ganguli of the Los Angeles Times. Johnson specified that he’s had four offers to run or own teams, including the Knicks, before he joined the Lakers as a basketball and business adviser.
  • Knicks president Phil Jackson views Hernangomez and Porzingis as the team’s “starting frontcourt tandem of the future,” according to a report from Marc Berman of the New York Post. While coach Jeff Hornacek has still discussed starting Noah when he returns from injury, the team’s frontcourt plans could change if Hernangomez maintains his stellar performance.
  • Anthony has no qualms with being snubbed from the 2016/17 All-Star roster, citing the need to “just get away from everything.” “I could utilize this break,” Anthony said. “If they call me, I’d consider it, but I would love to utilize this break.” Anthony, who wouldn’t entertain trade talks with Fred Kerber of the New York Post, discussed the honor of passing Charles Barkley on the NBA’s all-time scoring list (23,775).
  • NBA Commissioner Adam Silver issued a statement today, calling the Charles Oakley/James Dolan situation “beyond disheartening.” According to Frank Isola of the Daily News, Silver and Michael Jordan conducted a conference call with Oakley and Dolan in an attempt to resolve their feud. “Both Mr. Oakley and Mr. Dolan were apologetic about the incident and subsequent comments, and their negative impact on the Knicks organization and the NBA,” Silver said. “I appreciate the efforts of Mr. Dolan, Mr. Oakley, and Mr. Jordan to work towards a resolution of this matter.”

Knicks Notes: Rivers, Anthony, Boeheim

Austin Rivers said the Knicks were on his short list when he was a free agent this past summer, as Laura Albanese of Newsday writes. “[The Knicks] were a huge option,” Rivers said. “That was a team that I was really considering.”

The Knicks are eyeing Rivers in a potential Carmelo Anthony deal. The guard hears the rumors surrounding his name, but he remains focused on helping his current team win.

“When [a trade] happens, it’ll be new for me, but after that, it’s whatever. Just focus on playing basketball, help my team, that’s it,” Rivers said.

[RELATED: Latest On Carmelo Anthony]

Here’s more on the Knicks from Albanese’s piece:

  • Team president Phil Jackson and coach Jeff Hornacek wanted to sign Rivers over the summer and they believed he would have been a great fit next to Derrick Rose, as Albanese passes along in the same piece. “Jeff had a vision of playing a little bit up-tempo,” Rivers said of his free agent meeting with the Knicks. “I don’t know how that’s panned out or what they’ve done, but I think that also changes when you’ve got certain players . . . He wanted to [coach us the way he] coached that Suns team, they wanted to get up and down and he thought me and Derrick could play together, get up and down, start ‘1’ and ‘2.’ ”
  • Anthony has not said publicly that he would waive his no-trade clause to leave the Knicks, but his former coach Jim Boeheim thinks he would do it for two teams, Albanese relays in the same piece. “I think it depends on the team,” Boeheim said. “I think [the Clippers or the Cavaliers] would be ideal. But I don’t know if it can be worked out. I hope it can.”
  • Boeheim added that he’d love to see Anthony play with “somebody that could win.” He added that the Knicks have to make a move because he believes the team cannot win as currently constructed.
  • Clippers coach Doc Rivers wouldn’t entertain much trade talk when asked about Anthony before tonight’s game. “We don’t have Carmelo. I swear to God. He plays for the Knicks. That’s your story and that’s the way we leave it. You can ask us about our guys, but Carmelo is not on our team,” the coach said.

Hornacek: Knicks Balancing Short-Term, Long-Term Priorities

Knicks coach Jeff Hornacek spoke to reporters, including Marc Berman of the New York Post, about the importance of balancing short-term and long-term priorities. While the Knicks remain in the playoff picture, Hornacek would be hesitant to mortgage the team’s future in favor of pursuing a postseason run this season.

“If we’re looking at just trying to make the playoffs, I would say we have a team if we all stay healthy we have a shot at it,’’ Hornacek said. “As far as a rebuild, I haven’t talked about that. We’re trying to get that system in and working, gotten better the last couple of weeks, we’re trying to build on that. If it ends up being a rebuild, we’ll work on that. If it’s the same team we’ll work on that.”

Aside from trading Carmelo Anthony, the Knicks have options to improve the team around the February 23rd deadline. Berman suggests Brandon Jennings or Derrick Rose could be in play, provided the Knicks receive draft picks in return. Hornacek is in the first year of a three-year pact with the Knicks, and wants his team to be well-positioned for a bounce-back 2017/18 campaign.

“We have to understand we have to try to develop something for the long term. If we’re just skipping steps just to get in the playoffs, that would be great for this year, then what do you do next year? We want to try to combine those two,” Hornacek said. “We still feel we can get into the playoffs, which it was in the beginning of the year. We had to see if they were going to mesh as a group. At times it looks pretty good. There’s other times it hasn’t. We’re struggling with that consistency.”

Knicks Notes: Noah, Rose, Anthony, Lee

Knicks management views Joakim Noah as a backup center for next season, according to Marc Berman of The New York Post. Noah has been a disappointment since joining the organization on a four-year, $72MM deal last summer. The Knicks realize it would be nearly impossible to trade that contract, but they plan to reduce his role in the future. And Berman notes that the recent play of rookie Willy Hernangomez may push Noah to the bench before the end of the season. “Obviously we got to get Billy more minutes, whether coming off the bench first, maybe starting him,” said coach Jeff Hornacek. “We’re still looking at all that stuff. Kyle [O’Quinn] gives us great minutes at times. You have to go with the flow and feel.”

There’s more tonight out of New York:

  • Derrick Rose realizes he could be a candidate to be traded before the February 23rd deadline, posts Ian Begley on ESPN Now. Rose, who was acquired from the Bulls in an offseason deal, is in the final year of his contract and might be moved if the front office elects to rebuild. “It’s something me and my agent haven’t talked about,” Rose said. “I haven’t talked to [GM] Steve [Mills] or the front office about it. It’s something that hasn’t been out there. It’s a thought, like it’s a one-year deal. It’s a business. Just got to wait and see.”
  • LeBron James did little to quiet speculation about a Kevin Love for Carmelo Anthony rumor when he was asked about it, Berman writes in another story. James refused to tell reporters if he has spoken to Anthony about a possible deal, adding that he wants Anthony to find the best situation, no matter where it is. “If he’s there in New York or not, I just want the best for him,” James said. “I want him to be happy. That’s all that matters. The game comes very easy to you when you’re happy about where you’re at. So if he’s happy in New York, maybe he wants to be elsewhere, I’m not sure. He’s done a lot for that franchise, did a lot for the Denver franchise and see what happens.”
  • Courtney Lee, who joined the Knicks on a $50MM contract over the summer is opposed to rebuilding, Berman relays in the same piece. “I signed here to be in a winning situation,’’ Lee said. “The reason why we signed here was to try to make the playoffs and we still have a great chance of doing that. It doesn’t matter what the record is, as long as we get there, it’s a new slate.”

Atlantic Notes: McConnell, Rose, Nogueira

The Sixers have rejected a trade offer from the Cavaliers that would have sent starting point guard T.J. McConnell to the defending champions, says Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer. The proposed Philly-bound package was said to have included Jordan McRae.

McConnell has become a significant part of the Sixers’ rotation of late, averaging 7.5 points and 8.9 assists per game in January. The Cavs are in the market for a backup point guard, at least according to LeBron James, so it’s not surprising to hear that they’ve inquired about the 24-year-old sophomore.

Under contract for just $800K, McConnell has quickly become one of the best bargains in the NBA. His role in the Sixers’ recent success — the team has won 10 of their past 14 — is one of the major reasons why he’s become a possible trade target ahead of the February 23 trade deadline.

There’s more out of the Atlantic Division:

  • After a healthy first few months of the season, Derrick Rose has come up limping. The point guard sprained his ankle Friday night and has been wearing a protective walking boot. According to Ohm Youngmisuk of ESPN, Knicks head coach Jeff Hornacek is doubtful he’ll see the guard return before Tuesday.
  • Though they lost Bismack Biyombo to free agency over the summer, the Raptors have a suitable replacement in Lucas Nogueira, says Mike Ganter of the Toronto Sun. Nogueira rivals Biyombo in terms of rim protection, Ganter says, but their playing styles deviate from there. Nogueira’s offensive awareness and soft hands are traits Biyombo never displayed in Toronto.
  • The fact that the Celtics need to improve their rebounding is not lost on general manager Danny Ainge, says A. Sherrod Blakeley of CSN New England. “I knew going into the year that rebounding would be an issue for us,” Ainge said. The reporter adds that Ainge wasn’t ready to start discussing possible trade scenarios, however.

Latest On Carmelo Anthony

Although the Celtics have stated that they’re not interested in dealing for Carmelo Anthony, the Knicks haven’t given up on them as a trade partner, writes Gary Washburn of The Boston Globe. New York had a scout at Saturday’s Celtics game and the organization is “intrigued” by several of Boston’s players.

A source told Washburn that Knicks president Phil Jackson has issued orders to move Anthony, who has indicated that the Celtics are one of the teams he would consider waiving his no-trade clause to join. Another source says Brad Stevens would love to coach Anthony, but president of basketball operations Danny Ainge has rejected the Knicks’ overtures. Washburn adds that Boston could serve as a third team to help send Anthony to the Clippers.

There’s more this morning on the Anthony trade front:

  • The Celtics present the only realistic trade destination for Anthony, according to Chris Mannix of Yahoo Sports. In a video posted on CSNNE, Mannix says Ainge is in a “great position” to present the Knicks with a lowball offer and dare them to keep Anthony past the February 23rd deadline. Mannix speculates that any deal wouldn’t involve the Nets’ first-rounders that Boston owns for the next two seasons, but may include other Celtics draft picks. He also dismissed recent rumors of a Knicks-Clippers deal, saying it won’t happen unless New York is willing to accept a “garbage package” involving Austin Rivers, Jamal Crawford and others.
  • Anthony admits the trade rumors can be a distraction, relays Ohm Youngmisuk of ESPN.com“You’ve got to deal with that, even though I try not to read it,” he told reporters. “And everywhere you go, even if you don’t hear about it, somebody is telling you about it, somebody is saying something. It can be mentally draining, mentally fatiguing.”
  • If the Knicks trade Anthony, they should also get rid of Derrick Rose and some of the other veterans they added over the offseason, suggests Newsday’s Al Iannazzone. Rose is a defensive liability and has already deserted the team once, Iannazzone notes, adding that he doesn’t appear to be part of the team’s “long-term solution.” He also writes that free agent additions Joakim Noah, Courtney Lee and Brandon Jennings didn’t come to New York to play for a team without Anthony, and believes the organization should commit to rebuilding if Anthony is traded.