Dallas Mavericks Interested In Trading For New York Knicks Guard Derrick Rose

There’s no denying the Dallas Mavericks’ need for additional ball handling and playmaking. It’s why the team recently signed former New York Knicks point guard Kemba Walker. Walker might not be the only Knick Dallas is interested in, though.

According to Fox Sports NBA Analyst Ric Bucher, a league source says Dallas is interested in veteran point guard Derrick Rose.

Bucher isn’t one of the regular reporters that’s usually tapped into the inner workings of the Mavericks. Still, Dallas and New York have been peculiar bedfellows regarding swapping players in recent years.

If the interest in Rose is legitimate, Dallas, which has a shortage of desirable assets given the team’s sluggish start to the season, would need to get creative to acquire Rose.

Rose has two years remaining on his current three-year, $43.56 million contract. He is earning $14.52 million this season and $15.59 million next year. However, the final season of the deal is a team option.

Given Rose’s salary, the Mavericks only have four players on the roster they could trade to New York for a one-on-one swap: Davis Bertans, Dorian Finney-Smith, Tim Hardaway Jr. and Christian Wood.

Bertans makes the most of the trio, having signed a five-year, $80 million contract with the Washington Wizards in 2022. He will earn $16 million this season.

Hardaway signed a four-year, $75 million deal with Dallas in 2021. It’s a favorable deal that sees his earnings decline year-over-year. He is making $19.60 million this year, $17.89 million next season and $16.19 million for the 2024-25 season.

Finney-Smith signed a four-year, $55.56 million contract extension last season. He will earn $12.40 million this season and is signed through the 2025-26 season. The final year of his deal, in which he will make $15.37 million, contains a player option. His contract also has a 5% trade bonus.

Dallas traded to acquire Wood last summer. He signed a three-year, $41 million deal with the Houston Rockets in 2020. He is in the final year of his contract and is earning $13.41 million this season.

None of these players have anything close to star value, although Wood has shown some flashes at times this season. Acquiring a star is something New York covets, according to Bucher. So, a one-for-one deal seems out of the question.

Then there’s the viability of Rose. While the Mavericks were fine to take a relatively inexpensive flier on Walker and his history of injuries, Rose has a similar past with a much steeper price tag.

Rose only appeared in 26 games with the Knicks last season and underwent ankle surgery in December. He had another procedure to address an infection. This season, he’s already been sidelined with a toe injury.

He was able to suit up when the Mavericks visited the Knicks at Madison Square Garden for a matinee game on December 3. Rose had four points, two rebounds and three assists in 13 minutes of action.

This season, he is averaging 6.4 points, 1.8 rebounds and 2.0 assists in 21 games.

Rose also carries additional baggage beyond his availability on the court. He was accused of gang-raping a woman in 2013. A jury found the accuser not credible in 2016, and the accuser’s appeal was dismissed in 2018.

The criminal investigation into Rose was dismissed in 2020 by the Los Angeles County District Attorney for “a lack of sufficient evidence.”

Even with the charges dismissed, the Mavericks may want to steer clear of Rose, given the team’s recent history of sexual harassment and misconduct in the workplace.

Kemba Walker may or may not work out for the Mavericks in their quest to fill their playmaking void. Kicking the tires on a trade for another point guard with a history of injuries seems like an odd proposition. Nonetheless, the Dallas front office is clearly in the market to improve the roster.