Derrick Rose & Immanuel Quickley
Without making a trade, the two obvious answers for who can replace Kemba Walker in the Knicks’ rotation is former league MVP Derrick Rose and second-year guard Immanuel Quickley. One of the biggest advantages the Knicks have over other teams in the league is their depth and their backcourt has played great this year.
Both Rose and Quickley have been key contributors off-the-bench for the Knicks this season and each player brings something different to the table in regards to how they can help New York snap out of their recent losing skid.
Derrick Rose has played in 18 games this season and is averaging 12.2 points, 2.9 rebounds, 3.7 assists and is shooting 45.1% from the floor, 41.2% from three-point range.
Since joining the Knicks last season, Rose has shot 35.8% from three-point range and not only provides immediate scoring off-the-bench, but he is second on the team in assists.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Knicks Expected To Trade Kemba Walker Ahead Of Deadline
Immanuel Quickley is only scoring 9.4 points per game off-the-bench this season, but he is shooting 36.7% from three-point range and really is like the “Energizer bunny” for this team.
The young guard is someone the Madison Square Garden crowd feeds off of and he just re-energizes this team when they are struggling on the floor.
Whether it is hitting a big shot or slowing things down by getting to the free-throw line, the 22-year-old guard just has a sense of calmness to his game that resonates with all of his teammates. The Knicks veterans are comfortable with having Quickley be the primary facilitator when he is on the floor and he has no problems filling this role for the Knicks.
Both being strong ball-handlers and knowing the Knicks system, Derrick Rose and Immanuel Quickley should have no problem seeing their minutes increase with Kemba Walker out of the rotation.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Knicks Expected To Trade Kemba Walker Ahead Of Deadline
Tom Thibodeau and this entire coaching staff believes in their abilities and so far, both guards have produced on the offensive-end of the floor. Their contributions on defense are a little bit of a question mark, but they know the system and have the trust of this entire organization.
