The Knicks plan to decline Derrick Rose‘s $15,596,339 team option for 2023/24, reports Steve Popper of Newsday (subscriber link).
As Popper writes, Rose was beloved throughout the organization, particularly by head coach Tom Thibodeau, but his on-court role in ’22/23 was virtually non-existent after December. He appeared in just one regular season game after the calendar flipped to 2023.
Still, the Knicks valued his leadership and the way he handled being benched, and a reunion on a minimum-salary deal is still a possibility if Rose is unable to find an opportunity for more playing time, Popper adds.
New York had until midnight on Saturday to make a decision on Rose’s option, per Popper.
Overall, Rose averaged career lows in points (5.6) and minutes (12.5) per game across 27 contests. He posted a .384/.302/.917 shooting line in his limited opportunities this past season.
Fred Katz of The Athletic confirms the news (Twitter links), noting that it may not have been as obvious a decision as it might appear on the surface. As Katz previously wrote, picking up Rose’s option could have given the Knicks an opportunity to use him as a salary-matching piece in trades, but now that has been eliminated as a possibility.
The 2010/11 league MVP and former No. 1 overall pick will become an unrestricted free agent and will be able to sign with any team. He was previously linked to the Bulls and Bucks.
The Knicks project to have access to the full mid-level exception in free agency after declining Rose’s option, tweets Ian Begley of SNY.tv.
A bench warmer costing that much… Not surprising…
Hard to see him leaving NYK unless someone just decides to throw him good money for no reason. I think Knicks offer him some good money for a bench warmer
No, they won’t. He looked awful last year and is a waste of a roster spot.
Come home buddy!
Oh, so he can come back to the Bulls and get a big contract where he will be injured for 3/4 of it, if not more… The Bulls really need to learn from the Ball contract… Stop getting players that are chandeliers.. It does not matter how good they are on the court, if they are never on it.
You think they would of learned from Rose’s first stint not to go after players like Ball…
What makes you think he’s going to “get a big contract”?
Rose’s next contract will be minimum. I assume he’ll have his choice of the NYK or CHI. One reason he didn’t take issue with his supposed “benching” was that he never made it fully back physically from the injury that ended his prior season. He wasn’t up to being a full season regular rotation player, at least as of December.
I think Memphis while Ja is out could be the best landing spot for him. He also went to the University of Memphis, so that could be a good story. CHI, ATL, LAL, and TOR could also use him. All depending on his current health of course. Or he could also retire, but basketball is literally life for Derrick Rose, so I believe he wants to keep playing.
First and foremost lays pay homage to a great player. He won rookie of the year. He’s a 3 time all star and the youngest player to ever win a M.V.P. Before the ACL injury he suffered in the first round of the playoffs against the Philadelphia 76ers he was a top 5 player in the NBA. Then he was on track to being one of the best Point Guards in NBA history. It’s an outside chance he makes the Hall of Fame. He will have his number 1 jersey retired by the Chicago Bulls. He will be 35 years old in October before the season starts. I think this upcoming season will be his last in the NBA. I think he can go about this four different ways. Every deal he signs will be for the veterans minimum. Resign with the New York Knicks and finish his career with his boy Tom Thibodeau and be a leader and mentor to the young guys. Sign with the Chicago Bulls if they don’t resign some of their own free agents. He will finish his career with his hometown team. Sign with the Milwaukee Bucks if they lose Jevon Carter in free agency. He will look really good backing up Jrue Holiday and competing for a championship. The best option is to sign with the Memphis Grizzlies. Ja Morant will miss the first 25 games for suspension. Marcus Smart will be the starting Point Guard until he comes back off suspension. Derrick Rose will be able to backup Marcus Smart and also serve as a mentor to Ja Morant as well as Marcus Smart and bring veteran leadership.
I agree. I forgot about Milwaukee. Milwaukee should be his dream spot right now, but Memphis will be where he’ll get the most minutes, especially with Tyus Jones gone.
Zero chance he makes Hall of Fame. He’ll be the only League MVP not elected. Iguadola has a greater chance of being elected
Ouch
He is headed to the Lakers.
DRose is a class act. He’s still a solid backup. Plus good mentor. He’s rested for a yr. He should be in great shape and health. Still got something in the tank. Unfortunate so called fans here. Don’t understand what’s going on here. Thibs owes Rose. So he made sure they signed him. Then he got hurt. Quickley started playing well. So he let Rose heal and rest. And mentor the young guys. Rose is a class act ….. too bad you can’t respect that.
He can still play. Best as a 20-25 min backup. He’s not looking for a big pay day. Probably will go with a contender or sign with Bulls. It’s the end of a great career. I’m thankful I got see him play. The real Rose. Just wish him the best …… go to Phoenix DRose …….
Al, I have a lot of respect for you in these posts, I do. Simply put, we both know our beloved Knicks can’t waste $15 mil on this guy. And if Rose matters that much to Thibs, add Rose to the coaching staff. Rose just doesn’t have anything left to give. If Rose thinks he does, go sign with Phoenix and be the backup point guard. I don’t need to see Rose in 2024 coming off the bench with 3 minutes left in a blowout like he’s Udonis Haslam. Rose has his moment against Cleveland. Thanks for the very few memories, let’s focus on winning a title. The Knicks don’t owe Rose anything. (Sorry if it’s harsh but it’s the truth). Keep posting Al!
He should probably just retire if were being honest. Declining his option means the Knicks will NOT acquire a premier player via trade. Losing 15M in salary matching is huge, and quite honestly a mistake.
Not necessarily true
And if they didn’t find a trade partner they’d be saddled with a $15 million player who barely plays. Sometimes you just take the easy money.
Seriously? No mistake, except reading Katz as if he must have a point. I doubt any team has ever, or will ever, exercise a 15 mm option on a 2 mm player on the chance that his expiring deal might be used in a trade, in any situation, but here it’s comical.
The NYK would be forfeiting their MLE and BAE for an additional 15 mm in expiring dead money when they already have 23 mm in expiring dead money. I can’t of a deal they could do this offseason deal that would need more than that added to the real players involved. But in the very unlikely event they find one (and can’t bear to include a real player like Hartenstein, etc.), they could do a SNT with Rose to bring back the needed part of his dead money on 3 year deal, with 1 gtd year, which works for SNT (they could actually bring back more than the 15 mm with that).
And we have to deal with Harts contract.
They should resign him and Gibson
Good joke
Veteran leadership. I know nobody understands it in silvers NBA
Was very very unlikely but he had an outside chance at earning 15 mill this year as trade ballast
Woulda been cool seeing as there isn’t a better dude in the NBA today worthy
THANK GOD. I can’t believe picking up this option was even a front office debate, much less an NBA hoops rumors discussion.
I’ll admit I’m not a fan of Rose, but if the Knicks picked up this option, it would have showed that they are not serious about winning. Yes, I’m aware that his salary could have been used as an expiring contract to match salary in a trade. But that player isn’t out there right now, and being saddled with $15 million in useless former MVP would be asinine.
If the Knicks love Derrick Rose so much, just hire him to the coaching staff. He has no use on this roster but I would endorse a minimum contract for the Suns just because.