With Kyrie Irving reportedly wanting the Cavaliers to find a way to trade him, it could make more sense than ever for free agent point guard Derrick Rose to sign with Cleveland.
According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, Rose met with the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday but is “leaning toward” signing with the Cavs. The 28-year-old is expected to sit down with Cleveland’s front office on Monday to discuss a possible one-year deal for the veteran minimum of $2.1 million.
Rose averaged 18.0 points per game with the New York Knicks last season, but his year was cut short when he suffered yet another significant knee injury. The former NBA MVP underwent surgery to repair a torn meniscus and is said to be at full strength heading into offseason workouts.
There had been speculation that Rose could make around $10 million as a free agent this summer, but he is apparently willing to sign a minimum contract with a contender like the Cavs to prove he can bounce back. While he’d be more suited for a reserve role given his injury history, Rose could get plenty of playing time if Irving is dealt.
Irving supposedly met with the Cavs and asked to be traded weeks ago, so that meeting may have helped spark the mutual interest between Rose and the team. At this point in his career, Rose is not going to feel the way Irving reportedly feels about how LeBron James plays. Assuming he’s actually willing to sign for the veteran minimum, taking a chance on Rose is a no-brainer for Cleveland.
