The Cleveland Cavaliers have agreed to a deal with free agent point guard Derrick Rose.
Rose receives a one-year contract at the veteran’s minimum of $2.1 million.
Regardless of what could be seen as a diminishing skill set, that’s simply excellent value for the Cavs, locking up the 2011 NBA MVP and providing them with a potential stopgap replacement for Kyrie Irving at point guard (should he be traded — which of course he will be).
The 28-year-old Rose had something of a bounce-back season in 2016-2017. He played in 64 games (all starts) for the Knicks and averaged 18.0 points, 3.8 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 0.7 steals in 32.5 minutes a game — while shooting 47% from the field.
While there is a lot to like about Rose’s season, it’s worth pointing out that he did shoot just 21% (on 0.9 attempts a game) from 3-point range. Rose, a career 29.8% 3-point shooter, hasn’t shot above 30% from the outside since the 2013-2014 season — a season in which he played just 10 games.
Rose has reportedly kept in close contact with Cavaliers all-world forward LeBron James throughout the off-season and this week’s Kyrie Irving news cemented his decision.
The Cavs beat out the Lakers and Bulls for Rose’s services.
While Rose is certainly not on the same level as Irving, this move takes considerable pressure off the team in its quest to deal its 25-year-old star point guard.
Rose would be able to hold down the fort at point guard next season, while still allowing the Cavs to contend for the Eastern Conference Championship and yet another NBA Finals berth.
