PHILADELPHIA — Derrick Rose is content together with his role as a mentor.
After the Knicks held onto the previous MVP past the trade deadline this past Thursday, Rose said he hasn’t even considered seeking to go elsewhere on a buyout.
“It’s still the identical thing. I’m still locked in with the team, talking to the blokes, mentoring,” he said after the Knicks’ 119-108 loss to the 76ers at Wells Fargo Center
Asked if he’s comfortable together with his role, Rose jokingly wondered if he had looked upset on the bench.
“If I used to be mad or something, I wouldn’t have the ability to cover it,” he said.
Starting on Dec. 4, when coach Tom Thibodeau cut his rotation right down to nine and replaced Rose with second-year guard Miles McBride, the previous MVP has only appeared in five games. Considered one of those instances got here in Chicago as a homecoming cameo and the opposite 4 times were when the Knicks were shorthanded as a result of injury. Thibodeau has repeatedly said he believes Rose, who he has coached with three different teams, has value teaching the Knicks’ young guards.
“I prefer to have him around me because he has a really positive impact on our group,” Thibodeau said.
Rose has a club option price $15.6 million for next 12 months.
