Knicks Notes: Rose, Porzingis, Anthony

When I asked Hoops Rumors readers on Thursday how long you expect Derrick Rose to remain a Knick, only about 15% of you said that he’d remain with the franchise beyond the end of the 2016/17 season. However, in the wake of a Monday incident in which he was unexpectedly absent from a game, Rose tells Michael Lee of The Vertical that he still wants to re-sign with the Knicks, and thinks the team has accepted his explanation for the absence.

“When I was in the room, I felt like they understood where I was coming from,” Rose said. “I hope one incident didn’t change their mind. Who knows? This is a business. If it was to happen, I still would want to play the way I normally know how to play wherever I’m at.”

While it may sound counterintuitive, there are a few reasons why keeping Rose on a long-term deal would be tempting for the Knicks, writes Ian Begley of ESPN.com. As Begley points out, there’s no guarantee that New York would be able to find a better point guard option if the team lets Rose walk. The veteran point guard also received rave reviews from former teammate Taj Gibson, who calls Rose “one of the greatest dudes I’ve ever been around,” adding that the former MVP is “misunderstood” (link via ESPN.com).

As we wait to see how things play out for Rose and the Knicks, here are a few more notes out of New York:

  • Kristaps Porzingis‘ lingering Achilles issue, which forced him to miss another game on Thursday, is becoming a problem for the Knicks, according to Marc Berman of The New York Post.
  • In a piece for ESPN.com, several writers, including Begley, Ohm Youngmisuk, and Kevin Pelton, debate the Knicks’ trade options, discussing whether the team should be a buyer or seller, and whether Rose and/or Carmelo Anthony could be moved.
  • Did Phil Jackson‘s offseason moves make the Knicks a better team? A month ago, the answer would have been yes, but it’s not so clear anymore, Begley writes in another ESPN.com piece. As Begley notes, New York actually had a .500 record through 40 games last season. This year, the club is 18-22.
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