3 reasons not to like the Derrick Rose trade for New York

The New York Knicks traded for a former MVP and three-time All-Star, yet in typical Knicks fashion, still managed to leave many scratching their heads at the move.

In fact, Derrick Rose wasn't even the best - or second-best - point guard traded Wednesday afternoon.

Here are a few reasons not to like this move if you're a Knicks fan.

What the Knicks are aren't getting in Rose

Yes, this is a 27-year-old only four years removed from being one of the best players on the planet and the No. 1 option on a 60-win team, and Rose is still capable of exploding on any given night. But over the rigors of an 82-game schedule, the Knicks acquired an average point guard at best.

Related: 5 moments that defined the Rose Era in Chicago

Since missing the entire 2012-13 season following his devastating 2012 knee injury, Rose has averaged roughly 17 points, five assists, and three rebounds over the last three seasons, but he's also been among the least efficient high-usage players in the league. He's missed 119 games due to a variety of injuries, posted an average player efficiency rating of 14.1, been a painfully obvious defensive liability, and watched the Chicago Bulls perform better when he's on the bench.

Injury-prone guards with bad knees who have never been able to shoot and rely on their explosive athleticism don't suddenly return to All-Star form after a half-decade removed from such excellence. They often slip further into the abyss.

Even more concerning for Knicks fans, here's how Rose's 2015-16 metrics compare to those of 34-year-old Jose Calderon, who Rose will seemingly replace in the starting lineup (Calderon and fellow point guard Jerian Grant were dealt to the Bulls).

Rose's $21.3-million salary doesn't matter much given that he'll be on an expiring deal, but unless the Knicks gain access to a time machine the rest of the Association is oblivious to, it's too hard to get excited about New York's latest acquisition.

The Knicks moved the best player in the deal

Grading deals isn't about reviewing career accomplishments and jersey sales, in which Rose was by far the biggest name moved on Wednesday. The best - and most valuable - of the players dealt between New York and Chicago, however, was Robin Lopez.

The veteran center has established himself as a dependable and durable two-way big man over the last four years. He averaged 10.6 points, 7.1 rebounds, 1.6 blocks, and more than 76 games played per season during that time, suiting up for all 82 games three times in the last four years.

Lopez was an impressive acquisition for the Knicks last summer. His average salary of $14 million over the next three years is a bargain given the skyrocketing salary cap, and he turned out to be a perfect pairing for a frontcourt headlined by Carmelo Anthony and Kristaps Porzingis, as he masked some of New York's defensive deficiencies without demanding much on the offensive end.

What about Porzingis?

There's not much to like about this deal from Porzingis' point of view, or from the view of anyone who thinks the Knicks should focus their efforts on building around the Latvian prodigy.

Anthony has never posted a usage rate below 28.5 percent, while Rose's average usage rate over the last six years is 29.7 percent. On the other end of the court, Porzingis could be the last line of defense behind two sieves, or he could see his touches further diminished if the Knicks splurge on an expensive free-agent center like Dwight Howard.

Forcing Porzingis to the backseat to make way for a franchise-changing talent is one thing. Potentially doing so for a fast-fading star like Rose would be maddening for long-suffering Knicks fans.

Shiny new point guard - same ol' Knicks.