32-year-old Derrick Rose has returned to the New York Knicks after stints with Cleveland, Minnesota, and Detroit. Now in his 12th season, Rose has become a high-profile target in the trade market, with many teams valuing his playmaking and scoring abilities.
Apparently, before the tragic helicopter crash last January, Kobe Bryant was nudging his team to trade for Rose somehow — a suggestion that apparently fell on deaf ears. Here’s the story, as told by Ramona Shelburne:
“Before the helicopter crash, that was the only time I have ever heard — and I’m sure it happened more than I ever heard about — but this was the only time I ever heard Kobe make a little suggestion to the Lakers brass,” ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne said on the Hoop Collective podcast. “He loved the idea of the Lakers trading for Derrick Rose or going to get him somehow.”
Last season was the first run of the infamous Davis/James duo, and it ended up being extremely successful. Despite the social justice protests and the impact of COVID-19, the Lakers went on to win the title, no doubt something Bryant would have loved to see.
Of course, having an endorsement by the Mamba only helps to prove that DRose is a guy that can still make some major contributions to his team — and it would have been awesome to see what he could do alongside LeBron James and Anthony Davis.
Nevertheless, it looks like that scenario will have to stay in our imaginations for the time being.
