The New York Knicks may not be done after acquiring veteran point guard Derrick Rose in a trade with the Detroit Pistons, made official Monday.
In that trade, the Knicks sent point guard Dennis Smith Jr. and a second-round pick back to Detroit. But the Pistons reportedly asked for forward Kevin Knox initially.
Knox has been benched, failing to appear in any of the Knicks’ previous five games. So why did team president Leon Rose and the Knicks refuse to include Knox in the trade?
Well, according to Marc Berman of the New York Post, it’s because “the Knicks may be saving (Knox) for another deal.”
That makes sense. Knox, 21, is still viewed around the league as a player with upside.
He is in just his third NBA season, and while he experienced a bit of a sophomore slump last year, he compiled averages of 12.8 points and 4.5 rebounds in 75 games as a rookie.
The Knicks picked up his fourth-year option right before the start of the season in late December. So he still has a team-friendly contract that would fit well just about anywhere.
But for whatever reason, he has fallen entirely out of the rotation under first-year coach Tom Thibodeau. Several front-office executives around the league have told FortyEightMinutes they believe Knox and the Knicks are likely done. But all feel Knox is a talented young player worthy of a fresh start.
And it appears the Knicks may be intending to give him that fresh start prior to the March 25 trade deadline.
