Derrick Rose is back training with the Cavaliers as he attempts to rehab from a nagging ankle injury and resume his basketball career. If all goes well and Rose is healthy enough for an on-court return, his role on the suddenly surging Cavs is not clear, Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com writes.
Cleveland is in the midst of a 12-game winning streak and currently occupy second place in the Eastern Conference. Jose Calderon has settled into the starting point guard role — where Rose began the season due to Isaiah Thomas‘ injury — and the bench has been effective with Dwyane Wade a potential sixth man of the year candidate.
Fedor noted that the Cavaliers’ offense and defense have been better with Rose off the court. Injuries have taken a toll on Rose’s 29-year-old body as he is no longer the NBA Most Valuable Player-caliber talent he was with the Bulls. However, Cavaliers head coach Tyronn Lue said Rose’s ability to score would still be a welcome addition.
“He was great. That Washington game, we had a big game in Washington and I think he had 24-25 points,” Lue said to reporters, including Fedor, during shootaround on Monday. “Just his pace, his ability to get to the basket, his speed that he plays with is great for us.”
Check out other news and notes out of the Central Division:
- Once Thomas is ready for the Cavaliers, Wade ideally wants to retain his role as a force off the bench for the team, Joe Vardon of Cleveland.com writes. “I’m good where I’m at,” Wade said to Cleveland.com. “The problem would only be worse when Isaiah comes back, because he’s going to need his shots. Where I am now, it’s working for me and for this team.”
- Nikola Mirotic was in a good mood for the first time in a long time while speaking to reporters after his first G League practice, Vincent Goodwill of NBC Sports Chicago writes. Mirotic has missed the season thus far due to facial surgery, a result of a preseason fight with Bulls teammate Bobby Portis. Both men have seemingly agreed to move past the incident and focus on the team.
- While the fit of Eric Bledsoe on a team with Giannis Antetokounmpo as the main star was questioned, the Bucks felt Bledsoe’s aggressiveness would mesh well with the Greek Freak’s athleticism, Chris Mannix of The Vertical writes.
- Bucks veteran Jason Terry has been diagnosed with a left calf strain and could miss up to two weeks, Matt Velazquez of the Journal Sentinel writes.
For this roster, Wade is best off the court for several reasons. Go Cavaliers!