Derrick Rose Says Yes

Now that the dust has finally settled from the NBA free agent frenzy, we can now evaluate the impact of the moves made by certain teams and project their chances of success or failure next season. By all accounts, the Golden State Warriors are now the most hated collection of superstar players to ever join forces, adding prized free agent Kevin Durant to the already lethal 73-win core of Steph Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green.

This alignment of elite, in-their-prime talent has caused many observers around the NBA to label them a Super Team, the likes of which the league has never seen before. But what qualifications do you need to be labeled as such? In an interview with NBA.com’s Lang Whitaker, newly acquired New York Knicks point guard Derrick Rose boldly announced that the Knicks are indeed in the same Super Team class as the Warriors, which caused quite a stir on the Twittersphere.

While most people would take this comment with extreme skepticism, I wanted to dig further to see if there is at least some validity to his claim. On paper, the Knicks have added more talent to their roster than any team in the league (quantity over Warriors’ quality?), signing the aforementioned Rose, Joakim Noah, Brandon Jennings and Courtney Lee to add to the dynamic core duo of Carmelo Anthony and last year’s rookie sensation Kristaps Porzingis. The Knicks also hired former Phoenix Suns head coach Jeff Hornacek to replace interim head coach Kurt Rambis who filled in for the unceremoniously dismissed Derek Fisher (Matt Barnes got the last laugh).

With all these new moving parts now coming together in the Big Apple, let’s break down what each piece could potentially add to the Knicks’ roster. Rose, when/if healthy, is by far the most talented point guard the Knicks have had since the Stephon MarburySteve Francis era (Linsanity is up for debate). His health has been the biggest obstacle for Rose since becoming the youngest ever MVP in 2011.

Derrick Rose outdoors
Photo credit: adifansnet

Since then, he has struggled with a variety of injuries which have sapped his explosive athleticism, and caused his scoring average to drop steadily to 16 ppg last season from a high of 25 ppg at his MV-Peak. It is fair to wonder if he will ever return back to form as an elite point guard in the NBA, which we will soon find out as the season unfolds.

The best/most underrated pickup in my eyes is Joakim Noah, who will provide the Knicks with the interior defense they have been lacking. Noah is only two seasons removed from a Defensive Player of the Year title, and is still relatively young enough at age 31 to average 10 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game. If healthy, Noah is a sizable upgrade over the departing Robin Lopez although it is safe to say that his best days might be behind him.

The additions of Jennings and Lee are solid, as they will provide excellent depth in the backcourt as well as much-needed athleticism. Under Hornacek, the Knicks will look to run fast and scoring opportunities will be constant in his system, which is to the advantage of both players.

These pieces were added to the foundation of Carmelo Anthony and Kristaps Porzingis. Anthony is at a crossroads in his career, having accomplished almost every individual accolade but has yet to get close to winning a championship. He is now the leader of Team USA heading into the Rio Olympics, with potentially the most important season of his career waiting in his return. Carmelo has always had to reputation of being a me-first player and is rarely credited for making his teammates better, a label he will be looking to shake with the new influx of talent.

The X-factor of whether this team reaches it’s Super Team status will be the development of Kristaps Porzingis. The second year player out of Latvia showed flashes of his unique talent that led to him being drafted 4th overall, which at the time was considered a very risky pick by Phil Jackson and the Knicks’ front office. Porzingod quickly became a fan favorite in New York after averaging 14 points, 7 rebounds and nearly 2 blocks a game. His ceiling could potentially be limitless, with the type of size and talent that hasn’t been seen since Dirk Nowitzki first blossomed in Dallas.

With the additions of Rose and company, the pressure and burden shouldn’t be as heavy for Porzingis as he will get more open looks while the defense must play him honestly. That being said, the outlook for the Knicks is far from rosie (I had to do it), and they will have to come together quickly to become a threat to the Cavs in the East. Until then, the label for Super Team should best be reserved for the team out West.

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