Trade Grades
Click here for link to New York Knicks Trade Grades
Knicks get: PG Derrick Rose, SG/SF Justin Holiday, 2017 second-rounder
Bulls get: C Robin Lopez, PG Jerian Grant, PG Jose Calderon
Wow. In a move with little warning that shocked the world, Bulls GM Gar Forman pulled the trigger on Rose. The superstar point guard was the number one overall pick in 2008 and set history by becoming the youngest league MVP ever in 2011 en route to three All-Stars, but we all know his story. Rose has suffered three season ending injuries since 2012, missing 228 games (out of approximately 410 games [82 regular season games per year]) in the past five seasons. His monster 5 year/$94.8 million has haunted Chicago as they struggled through the point guard's unfortunate series of season-ending injuries. All understood.
But Rose was not injured this past season. Far from it, in fact, he played in 66 out of 82 games, averaging 16.4 points, 4.7 assists, and 3.4 rebounds per game on 42.7% shooting from the field. Granted, not exactly numbers that sweep you off your feet, and Rose's once-powerful explosiveness was clearly hindered as he adjusts to post-injury basketball. But Rose is only 27 years old, with plenty of time to get back into shape. There is tremendous upside with him still, as it's not impossible that he can once again rival his pre-injury self. Rose had made significant progress in the right direction this season, and it really looked as if the backcourt duo of him and star SG Jimmy Butler were the cornerstones of this franchise.
Making matters worse, Chicago got very little in exchange for a player that could very well have superstar potential once the rust leaves and the health stays. Calderon will be 35 before the season even begins, and his expiring $7.7 million contract was just used in this deal to make the money work, as Rose had an expiring $20 million. Calderon averaged 7.6 points and 4.1 assists per game last year while hitting his threes at a 41% clip, making him a solid bench point guard.
Rookie Jerian Grant, along with Calderon, will compete with Rose's ex-backup -- Aaron Brooks -- for the starting role. Grant probably won't win it -- he averaged just 5.6 points per game last year -- but he was nonetheless a first-round pick that the Bulls presumably view as their new long-term solution at PG. Given Grant's underwhelming rookie campaign, however, it remains to be seen whether he will be a "solution" at the position to any extent.
The best player received by Chicago is undoubtedly C Robin Lopez. A decent starting center, Lopez put up 10.3 points, 7.3 rebounds and 1.6 blocks on 53.9% field goal shooting last season with New York. The acquisition likely means that Chicago will be saying goodbye to another long-time Bull this summer in C Joakim Noah, as the frontcourt is already extremely crowded, with big men Pau Gasol and Taj Gibson, as well as emerging youngster Bobby Portis. Thus unless Mr. Forman has another trade lined up with, say Gibson, I'm confused on how coach Fred Hioberg is expected to utilize Lopez's talents.
Overall, I'm perplexed and to be honest, a little saddened by this trade. There was no reason why Rose had to be moved -- his $20 million contract was expiring by next summer anyways -- what with his still sky-high potential and all. Additionally, the Bulls didn't get nearly enough in exchange, and it's confusing as to how exactly the pieces they did get fit in to their current roster. It remains more unclear than ever as to what direction Chicago is heading in now.
Grade: D+
Click here for link to New York Knicks Trade Grades
Knicks get: PG Derrick Rose, SG/SF Justin Holiday, 2017 second-rounder
Bulls get: C Robin Lopez, PG Jerian Grant, PG Jose Calderon
Wow. In a move with little warning that shocked the world, Bulls GM Gar Forman pulled the trigger on Rose. The superstar point guard was the number one overall pick in 2008 and set history by becoming the youngest league MVP ever in 2011 en route to three All-Stars, but we all know his story. Rose has suffered three season ending injuries since 2012, missing 228 games (out of approximately 410 games [82 regular season games per year]) in the past five seasons. His monster 5 year/$94.8 million has haunted Chicago as they struggled through the point guard's unfortunate series of season-ending injuries. All understood.
But Rose was not injured this past season. Far from it, in fact, he played in 66 out of 82 games, averaging 16.4 points, 4.7 assists, and 3.4 rebounds per game on 42.7% shooting from the field. Granted, not exactly numbers that sweep you off your feet, and Rose's once-powerful explosiveness was clearly hindered as he adjusts to post-injury basketball. But Rose is only 27 years old, with plenty of time to get back into shape. There is tremendous upside with him still, as it's not impossible that he can once again rival his pre-injury self. Rose had made significant progress in the right direction this season, and it really looked as if the backcourt duo of him and star SG Jimmy Butler were the cornerstones of this franchise.
Making matters worse, Chicago got very little in exchange for a player that could very well have superstar potential once the rust leaves and the health stays. Calderon will be 35 before the season even begins, and his expiring $7.7 million contract was just used in this deal to make the money work, as Rose had an expiring $20 million. Calderon averaged 7.6 points and 4.1 assists per game last year while hitting his threes at a 41% clip, making him a solid bench point guard.
Rookie Jerian Grant, along with Calderon, will compete with Rose's ex-backup -- Aaron Brooks -- for the starting role. Grant probably won't win it -- he averaged just 5.6 points per game last year -- but he was nonetheless a first-round pick that the Bulls presumably view as their new long-term solution at PG. Given Grant's underwhelming rookie campaign, however, it remains to be seen whether he will be a "solution" at the position to any extent.
The best player received by Chicago is undoubtedly C Robin Lopez. A decent starting center, Lopez put up 10.3 points, 7.3 rebounds and 1.6 blocks on 53.9% field goal shooting last season with New York. The acquisition likely means that Chicago will be saying goodbye to another long-time Bull this summer in C Joakim Noah, as the frontcourt is already extremely crowded, with big men Pau Gasol and Taj Gibson, as well as emerging youngster Bobby Portis. Thus unless Mr. Forman has another trade lined up with, say Gibson, I'm confused on how coach Fred Hioberg is expected to utilize Lopez's talents.
Overall, I'm perplexed and to be honest, a little saddened by this trade. There was no reason why Rose had to be moved -- his $20 million contract was expiring by next summer anyways -- what with his still sky-high potential and all. Additionally, the Bulls didn't get nearly enough in exchange, and it's confusing as to how exactly the pieces they did get fit in to their current roster. It remains more unclear than ever as to what direction Chicago is heading in now.
Grade: D+
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