2017 NBA free agency tracker: Grades for every deal so far
Derrick Rose: 1 year, $2.1 million (Cleveland Cavaliers)
Derrick Rose has committed to sign with the Cleveland Cavaliers and completed his physical exam today, league sources tell The Vertical.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 24, 2017
Free agent Derrick Rose has reached an agreement on a one-year, $2.1 million deal with the Cleveland Cavaliers, league sources tell ESPN.
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) July 24, 2017
What a disheartening day for Derrick Rose and the Cleveland Cavaliers alike. While uniting the Chicago Bulls’ former MVP with LeBron James would’ve been an NBA fantasy back in 2011, here in 2017, it’s a discouraging sign of things to come for both parties.
Though Rose averaged a seemingly respectable 18.0 points and 4.4 assists per game on 47.1 percent shooting last year, his played perhaps the worst defense of his career, still can’t spread the floor to three-point range and had his season cut short by yet another knee injury. Now, the former MVP will join the Cavs on a one-year, minimum contract to prove he still has worth.
Normally this would represent great value for Cleveland, who could use some extra firepower off the bench. At the very least, Rose is better than whatever version of Deron Williams that was in the NBA Finals. But a ball-dominant point guard who doesn’t play defense is not what the Cavs need to catch the Golden State Warriors, especially with his unreliable health.
With trade rumors swirling around Kyrie Irving, it’ll be concerning if this is the Cavaliers’ solution in the event of a deal sending their All-Star point guard away. Even if Kyrie and Rose both remain on the roster in 2017-18, it’s hard to see them being enough to close the gap on the Warriors or convince LeBron James to stay in free agency, for that matter.
Bourguet Grade: C+
HoopsHabit Grade: B-