Rose’s comments show Knicks are still mess

The New York Knicks suck. I say this as someone who grew up in the Empire State, and has been a fan of the team since 1993. All that said, honesty matters in life, and that team is all kinds of embarrassing.

It’s not that they simply can’t win games. Sure, that doesn’t help, but it goes far beyond that. We all know about the fiasco between owner James Dolan and former star Charles Oakley. Regardless of who you believe and defend in that mess, let’s agree that it never should have reached that point. It also shouldn’t have gotten to where Dolan was asking on radio whether Oakley had a drinking problem.

Then, on Thursday, point guard Derrick Rose decided to sound off about the triangle, and offensive system long used by team president Phil Jackson. Jackson, who won 11 championships as a head coach with the Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Lakers, has all but forced the system on current coach Jeff Hornacek. The result has been a mess, with the team sitting 25-36 and a comfortable four games out of the Eastern Conference’s last playoff seed.

Here’s what the free-agent-to-be had to say about the situation, per ESPN.com:

“S—, do I have a choice? Do I have a choice?” Rose said to reporters in Philadelphia after the Knicks held a workout there Thursday. “I just want to win games. Winning takes care of every category for an athlete.”

Rose has been a disappointment, as most players are that Jackson brings in. Hell, save for Kristaps Porzingis, every player that Jackson has acquired has been either mediocre or awful. Rose is averaging 17.6 points and 4.4 assists per game, but can’t defend at all and continues to be a headache – fair or not – away from the court. He’s been the subject of legal issues, in which he was accused of sexual assault. He also missed a game this year after going AWOL, something that didn’t even result in a suspension.

Whether you want to blame the Knicks and Rose for these issues is debatable. But the following isn’t: Rose stated New York was a super team before the season began. They are about to miss the postseason for the 11th time in 15 seasons. In that span, the Knicks have won a single playoff series.

After this year is over, Rose should be gone. Jackson should be gone. Dolan won’t be gone, but fans can pray he sells the team, something that sadly won’t happen. The Knicks should move heaven and earth to trade Carmelo Anthony, and start building around Porzingis in earnest. Anything less is completely unacceptable.