Report: Pistons seeking lottery pick in potential Derrick Rose trade
Derrick Rose has drawn interest from multiple contending teams as the NBA trade deadline draws near, and the Detroit Pistons appear to be placing a high price tag on the veteran point guard.
The Pistons are open to discussing trades involving Rose, but Shams Charania of The Athletic reports that they are seeking a lottery-level draft pick in return. That means Detroit wants at least a top-14 pick in return for Rose, and contending teams that are willing to acquire the 31-year-old at that price may need to get creative.
Rose is having a solid season this year with 18.9 points and 6.0 assists per game. Most importantly, he appears healthy. Rose is said to be a bit frustrated that he is playing just 26.7 minutes per game, but the Pistons have made it clear they do not believe he can handle a bigger workload. If Detroit plans to move Rose before Thursday’s deadline, continuing to ensure his health will be a priority.
The Pistons entered Friday just 4.5 games out of a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, but Blake Griffin is out for the season after undergoing knee surgery, and the team is exploring the idea of trading Andre Drummond. Given Rose’s lengthy injury history, it may make sense to trade him while he is healthy and performing well.
Rose has one more year and $7.6 million remaining on his contract. We know of at least two teams that are said to be interested in acquiring him, though a three-team deal may be the only way the Pistons can land a lottery pick.
