Knicks-Spurs-Rockets trade

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Knicks land Rose, Taylor, draft picks

ESPN.com news services

New York Knicks-San Antonio Spurs-Houston Rockets: The Knicks agreed to two deals before Thursday's NBA trading deadline to acquire Malik Rose and two No. 1 picks from the Spurs and forward Maurice Taylor from the Rockets.

Both deals were awaiting league approval one hour after the NBA's 3 p.m. EST trade deadline and had not been finalized.

The Knicks would send starting center Nazr Mohammed and backup point guard Jamison Brewer to the Spurs for Rose and the two picks, a first-round choice in 2005 that originally belonged to the Suns, and the Spurs' No. 1 pick in 2006.

Taylor

Rose

In the Taylor trade, the Rockets would get backup center Vin Baker and point guard Moochie Norris.

The moves appeared to be a sign that Knicks president Isiah Thomas was placing a greater emphasis on rebuilding through the draft.

The Knicks would have their own No. 1 and the Suns' first-round pick this June, and the 2006 pick from the Spurs would put the Knicks back into the first-round of that draft. Thomas traded the Knicks' own 2006 first-round pick to the Suns as part of the Stephon Marbury deal.

ESPN Insider Chad Ford's analysis: Once again, team president Isiah Thomas is willing to take back huge contracts to get more talent. In the Spurs deal, the Knicks are sending back $5.5 million in future salaries for the remaining four years, $27.3 million of Rose's contract.

In the Rockets' deal, Thomas is sending back $8 million in future salaries and getting back $18 million in return. In total, the Knicks, who have the largest payroll in the league, will add an extra $32 million in future salaries. For the Rockets, this trade was a salary dump and an effort to shore up a thin point-guard crop.

For the Spurs, not only did the clear $21 million in long term salary, they got another legit center in Mohammed

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So TS, are you happy with this trade? :wink: