The New York Knicks have reached an agreement to make a deal that allows them to acquire Deterron Pistons guard Derrick Rose and reunite him with coach Tom Thibodeau, sources told ESPN on Sunday.
The Knicks will send goalie Dennis Smith Jr. along with a second-round pick from the 2021 draft through the Charlotte Hornets to Detroit, sources said.
The Knicks and Pistons agreed to trade Sunday afternoon after regular talks that spanned several months, sources said.
Rose joins Knicks, where he spent a turbulent 2016-17 season fighting for the triangle offense during Phil Jackson’s regime. Rose was the youngest MVP in league history under Thibodeau with the Chicago Bulls in 2011 and played for him again with Minnesota in the 2017-2018 season.
The Knicks face a competitive comeback under Thibodeau in his first season as coach, becoming one of the best defensive teams in the league. Rose’s arrival helps the NBA’s 25th-ranked offensive team create a clash of veteran goalkeepers, including starter Elfrid Payton and Austin Rivers.
Rivers is likely to become a player that fighting teams are looking for in trade negotiations as they seek to consolidate their list closer to the March 25 deadline.
The pistons are heading for a reconstruction and have been working to find Rose a destination that will attract her. Rose, 32, has averaged 14 points and four assists at 42 percent this season.
For Detroit, Smith, general election no. 9 of the 2017 draft, is seen as a recovery project similar to striker Josh Jackson, who signed with the Pistons in the free agency. Smith, 23, recently offered to join the Orlando G League to find playing time.
New York entered Sunday’s game against Miami ranked 25th in the NBA in offensive rating, scoring 106.9 points per 100 possessions. The Knicks defense ranked 6th in the NBA (107.9 points out of 100).
ESPN’s Tim Bontemps contributed to this report.