NBA Rumors: Derrick Rose Could Be On The Move Again Despite Fine Season

KEY POINTS

Derrick Rose could be traded again
Rose is maximized as a spark off the bench
Teams with shallow bench unit could make a deal to get Rose

Former league MVP Derrick Rose is back as a subject of a trade discussion, a report said. Despite having a fine season with the Detroit Pistons, the 31-year-old might just be on his way to joining his sixth NBA team in 12 years.

Will Gottlieb of Bleacher Report said Rose is “playing like (an) ideal trade target for NBA’s elite.” He sees the former Chicago Bulls star’s exemplary season with the Pistons as a double-edged sword: one edge is a statement that he can still compete at a high-level, and the other is him being an asset to be exploited by the Pistons to gain another piece that would satisfy their rebuild process.

“On his fifth team in five seasons, Rose has finally found a role that maximizes his strengths and allows him to be his most valuable self at this point in his career: serving as a spark-plug scorer with the second unit.,” Gottlieb said. “He's been so successful that he's asserting himself as an ideal trade target for some of the elite teams in the NBA that are hoping to get themselves over the hump.

After 32 games, Rose has averaged 17.5 points, 5.8 assists and 2.2 rebounds in about 25 minutes of play off the bench for the Detroit franchise. The set-up of having his minutes cut as compared to his playing time during his prime years turns out to be a blessing than not as he is right on pace to play the most games since his MVP season in 2011 – and now he is making a case for the Sixth Man of the Year award.

Gottlieb sees the Los Angeles Lakers, Philadelphia 76ers, Houston Rockets, Portland Trail Blazers, Utah Jazz, Boston Celtics, and Orlando Magic as some of the potential “playoff-caliber teams” that can utilize what Rose can offer to the table. Based on HoopsStats.com, the teams mentioned are at the bottom half of the NBA in terms of bench output – a role which Rose accepted and thrived on with success.

"Derrick is a true point guard," Pistons coach Dwane Casey said. "He does a good job of controlling things. When things get tough and we need a bucket, he gets one. And you gotta have that."