GREENBURGH, N.Y. -- Phil Jackson's desire to trade Carmelo Anthony and jump-start another New York Knicks rebuild has been well-documented. It's the biggest story around the NBA during the past two weeks. And it might have even been the biggest story in sports if we weren't less than 48 hours from the Super Bowl.

Even Derrick Rose, a guy who rarely watches basketball during his down time, can't escape talk of the Anthony trade rumors.

"You hear it," the Knicks' point guard said Friday. "You have no other choice but to hear it."

The NBA trade deadline is Feb. 23, which means Jackson has less than three weeks to find a deal that works for all parties involved.

In the meantime, the Knicks are left in limbo.

Will they still be focused on a playoff push at the end of the month (they're only 1½ games out of eighth place in the Eastern Conference)? Or will they be playing for lottery position after trading Anthony?

Some veterans are privately frustrated by the uncertainty.

Derrick Rose has missed the Knicks' past three games with an ankle injury, and his status is uncertain for Saturday's visit from the Cavaliers. Brad Penner/USA TODAY Sports

Publicly, though, the players insist that they're just focused on the next game, which happens to be against LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers on Saturday (8:30 p.m. ET, ABC). They aren't consumed with the NBA rumor mill.

"We come here, we play, practice, do our work, get out of here, go home to our families," Courtney Lee said.

Still, it's only natural for the players to wonder what kind of domino effect an Anthony trade would have.

Rose acknowledged as much when he was asked about the potential of the Knicks rebuilding following such an event.

NEW YORK KNICKS Check out the team site for more game coverage

"Im on a one-year deal so I can't talk that much about it. The rebuild could be me going, too. I don't know," he said. "My job is to focus whenever I'm on the court, just try to win games, try to be positive, try to get better. Like I said from the beginning, I'm chasing something. I'm trying to get back to myself and I'm trying to play consistent games."

Rose, a free agent this summer, acknowledged he has thought about the possibility that he could be traded. He knows that players in the final year of their contracts are attractive trade chips. But the 28-year-old said Friday he hasn't had conversations with management or his agent, B.J. Armstrong, about any potential deals.

"It's something that hasn't been out there. It is a thought, like [I'm on] a one-year deal," Rose said. "It is a business. Just got to wait and see."

At least one opposing team sees Rose as a potential trade target, per league sources, though no deal is imminent at this point. It wouldn't be a surprise if Rose draws more interest as the deadline approaches. He'd be a strong Band-Aid for a team looking for help in the backcourt.

And if Jackson is thinking about trading Anthony, you can be sure Rose will be available as the deadline approaches.

When a team underachieves as the Knicks (22-29) have, nothing is off limits.