Knicks acquiring Derrick Rose in trade with Pistons, per reports

Derrick Rose is back with the New York Knicks and he's reuniting with his former head coach.

The Knicks on Sunday agreed to a trade that sends Dennis Smith Jr. and a 2021 second-round pick to the Detroit Pistons in exchange for the point guard, according to multiple reports. 

The second-round pick is via the Charlotte Hornets. 

Rose, who played for the Knicks during the 2016-17 season, was averaging 14.2 points and 4.2 assists for the Pistons while shooting 42.9% from the field and 33.3% from three-point range in 15 games. 

Detroit is at the bottom of the Eastern Conference, but now the 32-year-old Rose will be back to help lead a Knicks team that has surpassed most expectations this season. The Knicks are 11-14 after losing to the Miami Heat on Sunday at Madison Square Garden. 

Rose, a former MVP, also gets the chance to play for coach Tom Thibodeau again. 

They were together for five seasons with the Chicago Bulls from 2011-15 (Rose missed the 2012-13 season while recovering from a torn ACL). They reunited with the Minnesota Timberwolves for parts of two seasons in 2017-19, and now, again, with the Knicks.

The trade gives the Knicks a veteran point guard who's still productive, but it also raises questions about how they'll handle a crowded backcourt. It remains to be seen how this will affect the minutes of rookie Immanuel Quickley, who has impressed in his time running the offense this season. 

Elfrid Payton has started every game this season at point guard, and Thibodeau has liked what he has done with the first unit on both ends of the floor. 

The Knicks also have Austin Rivers on a one-year contract, though he could potentially garner interest from contenders ahead of the trade deadline. 

For Smith, it ends a turbulent stint with the Knicks.

The ninth overall pick in the 2017 draft, Smith averaged 15.2 points and 5.2 assists on 39.5% shooting as a rookie with Dallas before he was a key part of the return the Knicks got from the Mavericks in the Kristaps Porzingis trade.

In three seasons in New York, Smith averaged 8.7 points and 3.7 assists on 37.9% shooting and 28.4% from 3-point range. He has played in just three games this season.