Cavaliers point guard and former MVP Derrick Rose has communicated with the team that he is away dealing with a family issue. Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN reported that Rose, who is dealing with an ankle injury, is “seriously re-evaluating his future in the NBA.”
29-year-old Rose has dealt with a litany of injuries since winning league MVP at 22-years-old in 2011. According to Wojnarowski, this latest setback to the oft-injured Rose isn’t only limited to his physical health but has seeped into his psyche.
The following from ESPN.com,
Rose has missed 11 of the Cavs’ 18 games this season, including the past seven because of a sprained left ankle. Rose’s increasing frustration with injuries is causing him to question his desire to continue playing, league sources told ESPN.
One team source told ESPN of Rose: “He’s tired of being hurt, and it’s taking a toll on him mentally.”
Rose has been noncommunicative to multiple people close to him inside and outside the Cavaliers in recent days, league sources said.
It’s hard to blame Rose if he is seriously considering walking away from the game. Injuries have not been kind to him; forcing Rose to learn how to be effective without his signature athleticism. Rose still has a shoe deal with Adidas, which according to Nick DePaula, isn’t entirely guaranteed if he retires.
If DRose retired outright, he'd be leaving an adidas deal with 6 years and roughly $70+ Million remaining on the table. https://t.co/PgqqiqYqlJ
— Nick DePaula (@NickDePaula) November 24, 2017
Rose agreed to join the Cavaliers this summer after signing a veteran minimum deal. The hope was that in a different role, on a championship contender, that he would find his place in the league once again.
Head coach Ty Lue reiterated to the ESPN.com that Rose has a place on the team if he chooses to return.
“I don’t have a time frame,” Lue said. “You know, I want him to take his time. Like I said, it’s a personal matter. Just know the team, the coaches, the organization, we all have his back. I wish him well, and we expect to have him back.”
