New York Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau added a second former player in veteran point guard Derrick Rose, via a trade over the weekend that will send Rose from the Detroit Pistons to the Knicks for point guard Dennis Smith Jr. and a 2021 second-round pick.
Rose is expected to add some scoring punch to the bench, just as he did under Thibodeau with the Minnesota Timberwolves. Of course, Rose was way more than just a reserve scorer under Thibodeau with the Chicago Bulls.
Either way, Rose and power forward Taj Gibson are also together again as well — just as they were in their runnings with the Wolves and Bulls.
“I’ve known [Rose] my whole career — we came in together,’’ Gibson told reporters Sunday, via Marc Berman of the New York Post. “He’s a competitor. He’s a great guy.”
Rose’s familiarity with Thibodeau’s system should help, Gibson added.
“He’s one of those guys who’ve been around the system — same as myself,’’ Gibson said. “We know what Thibs basically wants. As long as you give 100 percent effort every day, 110 percent on defense. At same time just coming in and being vocal and understanding what you need to do.’’
The improved Knicks (11-14) currently sit in the eight spot in the Eastern Conference. They face the Miami Heat on Tuesday for the second time in three days. The Heat won the first one on Sunday.
