FAKING FLIGHT
Rose cracks travel jokes as Knicks watch their season go up in smoke
Derrick Rose definitely is not going to Minnesota, but he may be headed to Chicago.
One day after being spared at the trade deadline, the eccentric Rose raised eyebrows when he curiously made two references he was headed back to Chicago, possibly for another family matter.
The Knicks said he was joking because he had spoken to the media three times during Thursday’s deadline madness. Bada bing!
Rose, who huddled with Knicks general manager Steve Mills after practice for 10 minutes, approached reporters and indicated he had to be brief.
“Let’s do this because I got to catch a flight this afternoon,” Rose said.
After he finished the interview, Rose said he didn’t have any more time, reiterating he had a flight.
When a reporter asked where the flight was headed, Rose said: “Chicago.”
When Knicks coach Jeff Hornacek was asked about it, he said Rose would play Saturday against the 76ers at the Garden and acted confused by the question.
Rose famously missed a game against the Pelicans in January when he went AWOL to fly home to Chicago because of a family matter related to his mother. Rose failed to inform Kncks officials in advance and was fined $250,000.
Rose and Mills shook hands and hugged after their brief talk. Rose nearly was traded at the deadline Thursday to the Tim- berwolves for Ricky Rubio.
Asked about his meeting with Mills, Rose said: “Me and Steve have a great relationship — very open and honest. We are on the same page in trying to get the team to be consistent and get better every day.”
If there’s a buyout in the offing, it’s news to Rose, who still is hoping to re-sign with the Knicks.
“I hope so — they didn’t trade me,’’ Rose said. “That’s a good sign. My job is to come in and get better every day. You have to ask Steve about that. If you ask me, I’ll probably sign me for a couple of more years.”
During the All-Star break, Rose didn’t go to Chicago, but to Los Angeles. The Knicks heavily considered a deal for Rubio, leery of giving Rose a maximum contract when he becomes a free agent.
But the Knicks wanted an extra piece included, and the delay gave Minnesota president and coach Tom Thibodeau time to get swayed by his advisers. The Timberwolves organization wondered if Rose would make their young players, such as Andrew Wiggins and Karl-Anthony Towns, better and if they could re-sign him for a contract less than the max.
Rose said the conversation with Mills wasn’t about the neartrade or the deadline.
“I didn’t talk about any of that,” Rose said. “I’m professional about the situation. No grudges. No hard feelings about what was going on — if I was on the trade block. I want to be here. That’s how I feel. He told me I was all right.”