Why Rose trade makes sense for Knicks, Bulls

The rose that grew from the concrete might be uprooted this summer.

Derrick Rose, the hometown kid turned hometown star for the Chicago Bulls, is reportedly being eyed by the New York Knicks. And should the two teams find enough equal footing for a trade, Rose's seven-year tenure in Chicago might be coming to an end.

Dealing Rose would have been unthinkable four seasons ago, but a swap would make plenty of sense for both sides.

Why it makes sense for Chicago

The stark reality facing the Bulls is that they need to rebuild.

The golden years have passed them by. Their once-promising core is slowly deteriorating into an expensive mess. Besieged by injuries and a lack of talent, the Bulls missed the playoffs for the first time in eight seasons, and tough decisions await several key players.

Joakim Noah and Pau Gasol can both walk this summer, while Rose and Taj Gibson are entering the final years of their contracts. Bulls management can either empty the wallet to retain an aging core, or make the prudent move by getting a jump-start on the rebuild.

Moving Rose, the embodiment of the old regime, would make way for the future. His best years are clearly behind him, and he's overlapping with rising star Jimmy Butler, who increasingly covets the ball. Shedding Rose would eliminate the power struggle with Butler and help make way for a new core.

Parting with Rose will be tough, but the electric playmaker hasn't been himself since suffering multiple debilitating knee injuries. He enjoyed a nice bounce-back in the second half of the season, but like his health, Rose's performance comes and goes.

If the Bulls can fetch future draft picks, a prospect like Jerian Grant, or perhaps an established piece like Robin Lopez, moving Rose should be as much a no-brainer as it would be a heartbreaker.

Why it makes sense for New York

The Knicks can't help themselves from taking any opportunity to make a splash, and bringing in Rose would turn heads in the Big Apple.

But beyond grabbing headlines, snagging Rose would be a solid gamble that could pay off for the Knicks - both in the short and long term - so long as they don't cough up too many assets.

The Knicks have a run-and-gun head coach in Jeff Hornacek and an immediate need at point guard. Rose isn't perfect (he struggled with another fast-paced coach in Fred Hoiberg), but he still represents a significant upgrade over Jose Calderon. Pairing a slasher like Rose with a stretch frontcourt of Carmelo Anthony and Kristaps Porzingis would make for a lethal combination.

The Knicks would also have Rose's Bird Rights if he miraculously puts his injury history behind him and answers with a bounce-back year. Rose is closer to Anthony's timeline than that of the fresh-faced Porzingis, but retaining a revitalized Rose could bridge the gap at point guard for a few seasons.

And in the event it doesn't work out, the Knicks can simply walk away. Rose's contract will finally run its course in 2017, and that would still leave New York with plenty of cap room to chase suitors in a loaded free-agent class.