Derrick Rose Reportedly Will Be Traded to Knicks

With the Chicago Bulls potentially losing several free agents this offseason, the organization could be entering a transformational period, and star point guard Derrick Rose reportedly will be traded.

K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune reported the New York Knicks are trading Robin Lopez, Jerian Grant and Jose Calderon for Rose, Justin Holiday and a 2017 second-round pick.

On June 17, Ian Begley of ESPN.com reported the Knicks had Rose "on their radar," adding the team had "internal discussions" about trading for the point guard.

League sources at the Adidas Eurocamp in Treviso, Italy, said "the Bulls are actively open to moving [Rose], and that seems to be the first choice rather than shopping [Jimmy] Butler," Steve Kyler of Basketball Insiders reported on June 14.

But Rose has reportedly been the name mentioned more frequently in trade talks, per Kyler:

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Rose is entering the final year of his deal and has commented numerous times on the ballooning salary cap and his next contract, much to the dismay of the Bulls front office and a large number of Bulls fans. Add that to an on-again, off-again intensity and there is a sense that both sides would welcome a change, especially with Rose entering a free agent year.

At this point, it's unclear which teams (if anyone) has made a real offer for Rose, especially given his $21.3 million salary. But it was said a few times that the name being talked about most among teams and scouts in Italy was not Butler, but rather Rose and there is a sense that a team that misses on a starting-caliber point guard in free agency may turn to the Bulls.

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It isn't shocking that the Bulls decide to move on from veterans like Rose this offseason.

For one, Pau Gasol and Joakim Noah will both likely be unrestricted free agents. If both sign elsewhere, the Bulls will lose two of their most productive big men. While there will be options on the market to replace them, there is no guarantee Chicago will attract big-name free agents.

That could leave the team in rebuilding mode, and it made the prospect of dealing Rose even more logical.

Butler also wouldn't have a shortage of suitors, should the Bulls choose to move him. Marc Stein and Chad Ford of ESPN.com reported June 13 the Minnesota Timberwolves were interested in moving their fifth overall pick in this year's draft in a trade package to acquire him.

Rose is still just 27, he played well when healthy in 2015-16 (16.4 points, 4.7 assists and 3.4 rebounds per game), and he's an experienced, decorated player who has plenty of good basketball left.

Trading for the former NBA MVP could be a high-risk, high-reward move at a moderate price.

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