Cleveland Cavaliers: 5 goals for Derrick Rose in 2017-18

3. Start strong

Four point guards are listed on the Cavaliers roster. One of them, Kay Felder, isn’t expected to make the team. Another, 36-year-old Jose Calderon, played 247 minutes last year. That’s about five full NBA games. Thomas is out injured until at least December. That leaves Rose left in this game of point guard survivor.

There won’t be a lack of early opportunities for the vet entering his 10th season in the NBA. Rose will likely join Dwayne Wade or J.R. Smith in the starting backcourt come opening night. He’ll earn heavy minutes with the second string as well.

If Rose wants to remain in the regular rotation when Thomas returns, he needs to fill the vacuum left by Kyrie Irving to at least 80 percent capacity. That’s very doable if Rose performs like he did last season, averaging 20 points, essentially five assists and four rebounds per 36 minutes. Irving averaged about an assist more and a rebound less per 36 minutes, while scoring about five more points. Twenty points is 80 percent of 25.

So, last year’s version of Rose needs to show for the Cavs. If so, he’s a very viable starter and will help keep the ship afloat until the All-Star Thomas returns. This could also mean regular minutes with the starters, even with the former Celtic in the rotation.