Derrick Rose realizes it could be him, too.
With the Knicks exploring deals for Carmelo Anthony in an attempt to get younger, Rose, who heard rumors at the trading deadline last February with the Bulls, knows he’s not safe, either.
Rose, whom the Knicks obtained via trade last June, has an expiring contract and has put up nice numbers (17.9 points, 4.4 assists, 45.5 shooting percentage), but his defense and playmaking prowess have been subpar. Still, he could net close to a maximum contract deal this summer as a free agent, and the Knicks are clearly on the fence, especially after he recently went AWOL before the New Orleans game.
Knicks president Phil Jackson attended practice Friday. Rose and Jackson almost never talk.
“Rebuild — you heard that?’’ Rose said. “I’m on a one-year deal. I can’t talk that much about it. The rebuild could be me going, too.”
Rose is expected to miss his fourth straight game Saturday with a sprained left ankle when the Knicks host the Cavaliers. He returned to practice but still wasn’t close to 100 percent. Knicks coach Jeff Hornacek doubts he’ll play.
“Yes, this is my year,” said Rose of his disappointment in likely missing the game. “This is when you prove yourself, in games like this.”
Though his knees have been healthy, Rose is expected to miss his ninth game (back spasms, AWOL, ankle).
“It’s something me and my agent [B.J. Armstrong] haven’t talked about it,’’ Rose said of getting dealt as a rental at the Feb. 23 deadline. “I haven’t talked to Steve [Mills] or the front office. It is a thought — that one-year deal. This is a business. Just got to wait and see.”
The Bulls pulled the trigger after last season but were looking to wheel and deal Rose last February.
“I really didn’t believe it at the time,’’ Rose said. “I was kind of numb to it. It isolates you a little bit. You want to work on your game even more. If talks are there, you want the talks to go away. To me, it’s motivation. That’s how I took it.’’
There’s always speculation now about the Timberwolves, whose coach/president is Rose’s former coach Tom Thibodeau. The Wolves have shopped point guard Ricky Rubio for a while, according to a source, and the Knicks had interest in the Spanish playmaker at last year’s trade deadline.
“My job is to focus whenever I’m on the court,’’ Rose said. “From the beginning, I’m chasing something. I’m trying to get back to myself, trying to play a consistent game.’’
Rose, who ran laps on the court during practice, said his ankle still isn’t strong enough but is holding out for a miracle. He missed the prior Cavs game at the Garden, too, when Cleveland won by 32 on Dec. 7.
“Tomorrow I may feel totally different,’’ Rose said. “I don’t want to rule myself out.’’
Hornacek said he’s still sticking with Joakim Noah for now as starting center despite another breakout game for rookie Willy Hernangomez against the Nets. Hornacek is happy with Noah’s work on screens and feels Hernangomez has good chemistry with the bench players, but the coach said it’s fluid situation.