Leon Rose has rightfully heard criticism about his secrecy and unavailability to the media, and while his words are rarely heard publicly, his actions in recent years have been of an executive who is in the zone.
Cooking like Donte DiVincenzo from downtown over the past two weeks, Rose has once again hit a home run at the NBA trade deadline, bringing in much-needed shooting help and floor spacers in Alec Burks (again) and Bojan Bogdanovich for Quentin Grimes, Evan Fournier, Malachi Flynn, Ryan Arcidiacono, and two second-round picks. The splash isn’t even the most impactful deal Rose swung this year, as the blockbuster that brought in OG Anunoby and Precious Achiuwa has drastically changed the outlook of this Knicks team, and where they can go this season.
Wednesday’s move was another Rose masterclass, making the Knicks better in the present while not sacrificing their potential for an even bigger move in the offseason. Remarkably, New York has added Anunoby, Achiuwa, Burks, and Bogdanovich without parting with a single one of their several first-round picks, keeping those in the chamber should the coveted superstar become available this summer.
After labouring through decades of front office incompetency, the Knicks have clearly found their brilliant architect in Rose, who has been firing on all cylinders of late. In the free agency market, he has added DiVincenzo, whose contract looks like an absolute steal as he continues to look like a version of peak Klay Thompson. Isaiah Hartenstein, filling in seamlessly for the injured Mitchell Robinson (and then some), has one of the best contracts for a center in the NBA given his ascent since signing with the Knicks. And of course, Jalen Brunson’s rise to superstardom has put his four-year deal into consideration for the biggest bargain contract in the league.
On the trade front, see above, while also remembering the impactful deal for Josh Hart last season, which helped make the Knicks one of the best teams via net rating down the stretch, before winning their first playoff series in 10 years. Two years before that, the acquisition of Derrick Rose completely changed the complexion of the team, guiding them to an improbable playoff berth.
On the draft side, Deuce McBride looks like a solid find in the second round, having just signed a three-year, $13 million extension (which could help make him tradeable for a bigger piece in the future), while two late first-round picks in Grimes and Immanuel Quickley have now been turned into pieces that are ready to take the Knicks to the next level.
It truly does seem like Rose can’t miss right now.
Of course, there have been warts on Rose’s resume. The Evan Fournier signing (and the Kemba Walker deal) was a bust, though he just dumped that contract for Bogdanovich, who swaps out as another contract that can be included in a trade, only he can also help the team in the here and now. Talk about making the most of a bad decision. Drafting Obi Toppin over Tyrese Haliburton will always sting, but nobody’s perfect.
Still, it can be argued that Rose has been close to perfect of late. Big picture, when looking at the wasteland of a roster he inherited back in 2020 (remember Kevin Knox, Frank Ntilikina, Elfrid Payton, and Dennis Smith Jr.?), he has done a masterful job at turning the franchise around. Meanwhile, the future hasn’t been sacrificed, as Rose has compiled more first-round picks than head coaches the Knicks had in the 2010s. Now, as the Knicks look to finally get back into the conversation of a title contender, Rose is doing his best work yet.