Derrick Rose was quoted in Slam Magazine this week saying he hopes he can spend the rest of his career with the Knicks.
Rose told The Post earlier this week he had heard nothing from the Knicks regarding an in-season contract extension. Asked about that possibility Friday, Rose said he would be intrigued.
“My thought on that, if they want to do it, that would be cool,’’ Rose told The Post before the Knicks’ 118-114 win over the Timberwolves. “It would let me know I’m playing the way they want me to play and I’m on the right track. But if not, I haven’t heard anything. So I’m not thinking about it.”
After the game, Rose was asked why he wants to stick here.
“I love the atmosphere, I love the environment and fans and love the team,’’ Rose said. “As for my future, who knows? I’ll have to wait but I’d love to be here though.’’
Rose will become a free agent July 1, but currently is eligible for a two-year contract extension with 4.5 percent raises on what he makes now — $21.3 million. On Dec. 22, the six-month anniversary of his trade to the Knicks, the attractiveness of a contract extension would be greater. He would be eligible to sign a three-year extension with 7.5 percent raises. The value would be $75 million.
The Post reported the Knicks had not ruled it out later in the season despite the attractiveness of Chris Paul, a Carmelo Anthony buddy, becoming a free agent.
Rose is living in Manhattan and said he is enjoying it a lot. He told Slam Magazine: “We’re building the culture. We’re building the foundation now. I’m under a one-year contract so of course I want to play the rest of my life here. But it takes time, it takes patience to figure out how everyone is going to fit, if it is going to fit and going from there.”
Rose had a nice night in the victory over Minnesota on Friday, scoring 24 points on 9-of-15 shooting.
Courtney Lee missed a game for the first time as a Knick with a sprained ankle and Joakim Noah sat out a second straight game with the same injury.
Lee hasn’t ruled out playing Sunday against Sacramento, when he would face the player he replaced, Arron Afflalo. Lee said he could “barely walk’’ after Wednesday’s Minnesota game. Anthony has advised him to sit out until the game at Miami on Tuesday.
Jeff Hornacek acknowledged Anthony had a recent dry spell with last-second, game-winners as a Knick, but the coach said he is thrilled Melo has done it twice in six days.
“I’ve been on teams some years it looks like guys miss last-seconds shots, but then one year in Utah, John Stockton made seven game-winners,’’ Hornacek said. “Sometimes they come in bunches. That’s our hope with Carmelo. He’ll continue that clutch shooting when we need it. Veteran guys, guys who had done it in the past, and never done it, you can say now he’s not going to do it. he’s proven it before. A few years maybe he didn’t. we’re not concerned with that.’’