If it seems Tom Thibodeau can’t coach a club unless he has both Taj Gibson and Derrick Rose prowling the locker room, well, so be it.
Gibson and Rose have a lot in common — the quintessential Thibodeau disciples.
They both played for Thibodeau in Chicago and in Minnesota. And this season, Thibodeau made a big push to get both of them to New York for second stints.
“Thibs getting the band back together,” former Bulls star Jimmy Butler said.
On Sunday, the Knicks agreed in principle to trade for Rose in exchange for Dennis Smith Jr. and a 2021 second-round pick to add more offensive firepower.
“I’ve known [Rose] my whole career — we came in together,’’ said Gibson after the Knicks lost to the Heat on Sunday. “He’s a competitor. He’s a great guy.”
Gibson is only a bit player nowadays, filling in as backup center when Nerlens Noel’s knee acts up. With Noel out a second straight game, the 35-year-old Brooklyn native had his best game since signing last month — scoring nine points, shooting 4-for-4 from the floor in 16 minutes.
Rose will have a larger role, but like Gibson, learning the system will be second nature.
“He’s one of those guys who’ve been around the system — same as myself,’’ said Gibson, who did not play in his first eight games after joining the Knicks. “We know what Thibs basically wants. As long as you give 100 percent effort every day, 110 percent on defense. At same time just coming in and being vocal and understanding what you need to do.’’
It’s unclear the severity of Noel’s injury. The expert shot-blocker has missed games on and off to rest his knee. So Gibson’s role could loom larger. Sunday marked the fifth game Noel has missed this season.
“I thought he played really well and when Nerlens is back, he’ll be ready in any role we ask him to play,’’ Thibodeau said of Gibson. “That’s always been with him. Even early on in his career, start him, bring him off the bench. Whatever the team needed he provided. He’s a great teammate, great leader.’’
The addition of Rose will not help Kevin Knox’s and Frank Ntilikina’s chances of returning to the rotation. Knox did not play in his fifth straight game while Ntilikina sat out his eighth straight.
The Pistons preferred Knox be included in the Rose trade, but the Knicks may be saving him for another deal.
The Knicks complete the home-and-home against the Heat on Tuesday in Miami.
