No. 4. Derrick Rose is reunited with head coach Tom Thibodeau with Knicks (Feb. 8, 2021)

About a month and a half into the season, the New York Knicks decided that they needed some more help in their backcourt and what better player to target than Derrick Rose! Not only does he have a vast history with head coach Tom Thibodeau, as “Thibs” coached Rose for five seasons in Chicago from 2010-2015, but Rose played with the Knicks during the 2016-17 season. 

While he is not the MVP caliber player he once was, as he has dealt with plenty of knee injuries over the course of his career, Derrick Rose is still an impact, veteran player that has made a big difference on a young Knicks team. 

Rose has come off-the-bench for the Knicks this season and has thrived in his role, averaging 12.2 points, 2.3 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 0.9 steals and shooting 36.2% from three-point range. The Knicks traded away a young talent in Dennis Smith Jr. and Charlotte’s 2021 second-round pick for Rose, but it was well worth it given how important the veteran guard has been off-the-bench for the Knicks. 

With some young talents in Elfird Payton and Immanuel Quickley in the Knicks’ backcourt, Derrick Rose has stepped up into a role of being a change of pace guy on the court and a mentor for the young Knicks’ players off-the-court. 

Rose has been through a lot in his career and has battled more adversity than maybe any other player in NBA history when it comes to coming back from injuries, which is why he is a great addition for this Knicks locker room. 

He already knew Tom Thibodeau’s style of play, he was familiar with the Knicks organization due to his prior history with them and New York needed another point guard, which is why this fit and trade for Derrick Rose made a ton of sense for the Knicks this year.