Derrick Rose was the subject of one of the strangest NBA stories in some time on Monday. The New York Knicks point guard went missing, evidently heading back to his hometown of Chicago for family reasons, and missing the team’s game against the Pelicans. On Tuesday, Rose spoke to the media and apologized for his lack of contact with the organization.
On the heels of that situation, The Vertical’s Adrian Wojnarowski is reporting that Rose’s future in New York is uncertain.
In the aftermath of going AWOL at The Garden, Knicks officials need to further determine Rose’s passion to return to the team and continue playing.
Rose has put into peril his short-term role – with the possibility of a suspension, sources said – and the longer-term chances to land a lucrative contract extension with the Knicks in July, league sources told The Vertical.
In addition to the issue of skipping a game without communication, Rose has also reportedly been clashing with head coach Jeff Hornacek for weeks.
Rose has been increasingly frustrated with how this Knicks season has unfolded, culminating with him privately fuming over his diminished late-game role in Friday night’s victory in Milwaukee, sources said. Knicks coach Jeff Hornacek played undrafted rookie Ron Baker over Rose in the fourth quarter.
Rose has been privately critical of Hornacek, but no one in the locker room – or management – has expressed any issues with how Hornacek has coached Rose, league sources said.
This is obviously an ongoing situation but it could have huge effects on Derrick Rose and the Knicks. For one, it puts into jeopardy his chances of re-signing with the team, which many may argue would be saving the organization from itself. It will also put into question how many and what kind of offers the point guard will receive in free agency.
Rose has already lost much of the basketball ability that turned him into an MVP in 2011. Becoming a headache off the court cannot help his chances.
