Knicks free agent Derrick Rose was far from summer league Monday — visiting the Bucks in Milwaukee on a recruiting trip.
While the Knicks wait to see Rose’s market value in their attempt to sign a veteran point guard, their French lottery pick, Frank Ntilikina, would be happy to have him as a mentor.
“He’s the youngest MVP of the NBA history, I can learn from him,’’ Ntilikina said after missing his third straight summer league game with a knee bruise. “It would be good. He’s done a lot of things in his career. For sure it would be good. I’m not Jets Womens Jersey controlling what management is doing. I trust the management and the coaching staff to do what’s best for the team.’’
The Knicks need a veteran starting point guard because they don’t believe Ntilikina will be ready when he turns 19 this month. They also are trying to get younger and Rose, 29, has undergone four knee surgeries in six years.
Former Knicks president Phil Jackson appeared very open to bringing him back after trading Robin Lopez and Jerian Grant to get him last summer. But Jackson is gone, and the Knicks are playing the point-guard field with acting president/general manager Steve Mills in charge. They definitely don’t want to give Rose more than a one-year deal.
After losing out on Jeff Teague and Jrue Holiday, the Knicks are monitoring the George Hill Sweepstakes. The Jazz veteran met with the Lakers on Monday.
Rose’s market value has gone soft, with sources indicating his most recent knee surgery has cost http://www.newyorkjetsauthorized... him millions. It’s no surprise he visited with the Bucks, who play close to his Chicago hometown.
After a game in Milwaukee in March, Rose talked to The Post about the Bucks as a destination in free agency and how he idolized their coach, Jason Kidd.
“Of course this is like home,’’ Rose said. “Only an hour-thirty away. Easy for [family] to come, but they usually don’t come.”
The Bucks still don’t have cap space and would [img]http://www.authenticnikeredskinshop.com/images//nike_nfl_jerseys/nike_washi... have to offer him the mid-level exception, which has risen to $8.3 million.
The Knicks may be amenable to a sign-and-trade that gives Rose more and perhaps nets a point-guard asset in return, someone like Matthew Dellavedova, whom they almost drafted in 2013, according to a source.
Meanwhile, Ntilikina may not play at all here. His knee is improving, but still tender, and the Knicks have only two games left (Wednesday and Thursday).
The Frenchman, who injured his knee in the decisive Game 5 of the French league finals [url=http://www.arizonacardinalsauthorizedstore.com/a-q--shipley-jersey]A.Q. Shipley Authentic Jersey the day after getting drafted, won’t rule it out.
“We feel better day after day,’’ Ntilikina said. “I’m running a little bit but not too much. The main thing is to keep healthy. Maybe in two days I’ll be able to do a lot.
“For sure I want to play. That’s what I’m here for. To me being on the side is just a pain. The main thing is to not get the injury worse. Definitely I’m sad about it, but I have to be careful.’’
Watching the games has given Ntilikina more [url=http://www.arizonacardinalsauthorizedstore.com/a-q--shipley-jersey]http://w... confidence he’ll make a good transition, with his height (6-foot-5) and 7-foot wingspan.
“It’s a different game, but obviously I like it and fit great in this game,’’ he said. “A lot of intensity. I think I would do good and make my team get better.’’
As for a point-guard mentor, Ntilikina said, “I can’t control what is the management doing.’’