The Knicks are having a pretty good season so far, and the talk is positive about Derrick Rose’s future in New York.
Rose’s agent B.J. Armstrong joined Sirius XM NBA’s “The Starting Lineup” on Monday and was asked about how the Knicks are suiting the former league MVP.
“I think this has been a great fit for him,” Armstrong said in an interview with Sirius XM NBA’s “The Starting Lineup” on Monday. “I think he looked at it from the moment [the trade] happened as an opportunity. He was very thankful. I know we were very thankful for playing in a great sports town like Chicago. But this part of his life — he sees this as the right place for him to be at the right time and the right moment.
“So playing with a young kid like [Kristaps Porzingis] and Carmelo [Anthony] and all of the players and things they’ve done there, so many new faces, I think this just presents a challenge for him that he’s really embraced and I can’t find a better place to do it every night than Madison Square Garden.”
Rose is not up to what he did when he was an MVP for the Bulls, but his numbers have been solid this season. He’s averaging 17 points, 4.9 assists and 4.3 rebounds per game while shooting 45.5 percent from the field. That has led to questions about whether the Knicks will sign him to an extension.
Armstrong says the Knicks have not yet raised the possibility of a contract extension for Rose, who will be an unrestricted free agent after the season. But he also says he’s not concerned about that.
“It’s not something that we’re concerned about at the moment right now. We just want to look at every game, get through the season and see how good we can really be.”
Armstrong does believe there is a good possibility Rose will remain with the Knicks long term.
“I think there’s a good possibility [of remaining in New York long-term], and hopefully as he continues to just build on what he’s been able to do thus far and just take it one game at a time and let’s just see how it plays out at the end of the season.”
If Rose continues to play well and the Knicks build upon their success, it would make sense for them to try locking up the point guard. And it sounds like Rose would be receptive.
Here’s audio from Armstrong’s interview:
