Detroit Pistons add veteran guard Derrick Rose at bargain price

The Detroit Pistons needed a backup point guard; they solidified that position on the first day of free agency by signing veteran Derrick Rose to a two-year deal worth 15-million dollars.

Derrick Rose, at one time, was one of the brightest young stars throughout the entire NBA. The former first overall pick could do it all as a member of the Chicago Bulls; he averaged over 20 points a night in both his second and third seasons’ playing nearly all the regular season games. He averaged 25 throughout 81 games as a 22-year old in his third season of service. He was on pace again for numbers like that in season four, but an ACL injury limited him to 39 games and cost him the entire following season. The Detroit Pistons were in dire need of a backup point guard rather than re-signing Ish Smith the team actually upgraded to Rose.

Using the word “upgraded” fairly loosely here; he has a long list of past injuries that leads us to wonder how many games will he actually be able to play? Durability is always important, while you can’t predict an injury, the signing is a risky move. Not only has Rose struggled to stay healthy, so has Reggie Jackson. The Pistons will be wise to carry Jordan Bone as an insurance policy for both this season.

Although I liked Ish Smith, if Rose is able to play 60 games for the Pistons this season, he will be a considerable upgrade. Last season through 51 games as a member of the Minnesota T’Wolves he, to my surprise, averaged 18 points per game.

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It was a rejuvenated season for Rose who hadn’t played more than 50 games or averaged double-digit points per game in a single season since 2016/17. Last year Rose shot 37% from three-point range, which could have been a fluke but it gives us something to hope he can repeat. His career average from three is 30%, but the soon to be 31-year old hasn’t shot over 30% from deep since 2013/14.

To go along with his 18 per game, Rose recorded 4.3 assists per game along with converting on 86% of his free throws, another area the Detroit Pistons desperately need to improve on. Rose is 82% throughout his career at the stripe.

To compare, Ish Smith averaged 8.9 PPG, 3.6 Assists, shot 32.6% from three and was 76% from the free throw line for the Detroit Pistons last season. Rose was better in all categories. Ish Smith signed a two-year deal worth 12-million dollars with the Washington Wizards. Rose will make 1.5-million more per season, but the organization hopes he can score double-digits on a regular basis off the bench.

Fans might be excited about the name, but Derrick Rose isn’t the player he once was early on in his career. Rose regularly worked off the bench last season in Minnesota, and it seemed to work well for him. The Detroit Pistons need the second string players to score, something that hampered the team last season.

Rose, along with Luke Kennard, is expected to anchor the second team. You could make a strong argument for both players to be starters this season but playing them together off the bench allows Casey to run the offense through them while players like Griffin, Drummond & Jackson are getting a rest.

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After it was announced Rose was signing with the Pistons I wasn’t blown away by the move primarily because of the long laundry list of past injuries. After researching the numbers, he averaged last season during 51 games and seeing how much money point guards are making in free agency; I’m okay with the deal. I mean Ricky Rubio just signed a three-year deal worth 51-million dollars. If Rose can stay relatively healthy, his two-year, 15-million is a bargain; but it’s a big IF.

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