The Cleveland Cavaliers agreed to terms with free agent point guard Derrick Rose on Monday. According to The Vertical’s Shams Charania, Rose was signed to a one-year veteran minimum deal.
Rose’s addition to the Cavaliers became a possibility late last week when it was reported that the former Knicks guard was choosing between the Cavs, Chicago Bulls, and the Los Angeles Lakers.
The timing of Rose’s new contract is particularly of note as the Cavaliers are seemingly hoping to find production at the point guard position after Kyrie Irving reportedly requested a trade from the team. With rumors that the request was issued weeks ago, it seems as though adding Rose was a calculated transaction with LeBron James playing a major role.
According to Joe Vardon of Cleveland.com, James – who had previously opted to give no input in the Cavs’ front office decisions nor had he recruited players to Cleveland – had been talking to Rose throughout the entire process that led to his becoming a Cavalier. Of note, LeBron and Rose, two former MVP’s, had spoken about forging a path to the Finals in the absence of Irving:
Derrick Rose and the Cavaliers agreed to a one-year deal for $2.1 million contract Monday after spending the day together, discussing how the team will return to the Finals without Kyrie Irving.
Rose, 28, the 2011 NBA MVP whose career has been hampered by knee injuries, will come to the Cavs looking for his first trip to the Finals after eight pro seasons. He’s also looking at a potential starting spot in the same lineup with LeBron James, now that Irving has asked for a trade and James is eager to see him off.
Rose has spoken to James, who welcomed his new teammate on Monday.
James, who took to Twitter to welcome his newest teammate, seems ready to create a new partnership even before Irving is officially shipped off.
Last season, Rose found himself in the middle of two controversies, a day of going missing-in-action without informing the Knicks and, more importantly, allegations of sexual assault that he was cleared of in a seemingly imperfect trial.
