Rose: Knicks year was nuttiest ON the court

FORMER Knicks point guard Derrick Rose described his one and only season in New York as both crazy and confusing, yet he was only referring to basketball and not what happened off the court.

"On the court was when it was the craziest to me," Rose told the Associated Press. "Some of the strategies and all that, I didn't understand. It was confusing. It was just a learning experience."

Rose was critical of the Knicks defensive game plan and effort throughout last season. He also was not enamored with having to follow Phil Jackson’s edict of running the triangle offense.

Rose, however, did contribute to some of the craziness and confusion off the court. He missed most of the preseason due to a civil trial in Los Angeles over a rape allegation. Rose also missed a game when he went AWOL for 24 hours and returned home to Chicago.

“I’m not going to lie to you; the last two or three years, Derrick has been through a lot mentally,” said Rose'’ older brother, Reggie. “When you’re losing more than you’re winning, it can get difficult. So with him going to be in a winning environment again now, able to see how LeBron (James) prepares himself, the things LeBron does with his body, Derrick can incorporate that into his own game.”

Jackson was interested in re-signing Rose but once Jackson was fired, the Knicks decided to move in a different direction. Rose eventually signed a one-year, veteran minimum contract with the Cleveland Cavaliers. Assuming the Kyrie Irving trade is completed, Rose will serve as the back-up point guard to Isaiah Thomas once Thomas, who is nursing an injured hip, is healthy enough to play again.

l Sasha Vujacic, who spent the last two seasons playing for the Knicks, has inked a deal with Italian team Fiat Torino.

The club made the announcement Tuesday.

After playing 61 games (including 25 starts) for the Knicks in his first season on Broadway, the veteran guard inked a 1-year deal for the veteran’s minimum last season. He played in just 42 games — 4 starts — as the Knicks (31-51) suffered through another wasted season.

Vujacic made sense for the Knicks two seasons ago because he was a good fit for Jackson’s triangle offense. Now Jackson is gone and the Knicks are looking to build around Kristaps Porzingis, Willy Hernangomez and rookie Frank Ntilikina.

Vujacic, 33, spent his first seven seasons with the Lakers. The Slovenian also played for the Nets and Clippers during his 11-year NBA career. — With staff report