Assessing Clutch Points’ Derrick Rose trade for the Milwaukee Bucks
By Dalton Sell
The Milwaukee Bucks’ POV on the Derrick Rose trade with New York Knicks
Upgrading at backup point guard should be a top priority for the Milwaukee Bucks this offseason, and Derrick Rose could be a feasible target to at least kick the tires on.
Over the past four seasons, Rose has been among the most productive backup point guards in the entire league, having averaged 16.2 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 4.6 assists per game. Rose’s scoring is particularly captivating, given how much Milwaukee’s lack of consistent scoring plagued them in the regular season, having ranked 27th in bench points per game. The former MVP could give the Bucks a sizeable boost offensively in the second unit with his prolific scoring ability, patching up an obvious flaw that needs tending to this offseason. Some may question Rose’s fit in Milwaukee due to his career 3-point shooting numbers, having hit 31.6 percent of his triples in 13 years. However, over the past four years, Rose has shot 36.2 percent from range and an even better 39.4 percent over the last two. If Rose could at least be somewhat reliable from three, he would be a perfect fit.
Rose would be an immediate upgrade over Geroge Hill, who just had had his worst season to date in his return to Milwaukee. Hill was virtually a liability for the Bucks for most of the year, especially in the postseason, where he tallied six rebounds, five points, and three assists in 76 total minutes. Numbers like that simply will not get the job done, as Hill’s lackluster contributions were a sizeable reason for Milwaukee’s second unit struggles throughout the year. Replacing him with Rose would be a no-brainer. On the other hand, losing Grayson Allen would be a big blow, given how well he fit in with the franchise last season. However, like Hill, Allen became a liability in the postseason, and perhaps parting ways with him to get a significant upgrade at the backup point guard position is a justifiable reason to consider moving him.
As for the draft picks involved, the Bucks have shown a willingness over the years to move their first rounders if it helps them improve, and something like this would be no exception.