Derrick Rose

Cavaliers Sign Derrick Rose

JULY 25: The Cavaliers have officially signed Rose, the team announced today in a press release.

“We are very excited to be able to add a player of Derrick’s caliber and experience to the team,” new Cavs GM Koby Altman said in a statement. “Derrick could have gone to a number of other teams, but his specific mindset, goals and total focus and commitment to winning are what resulted in him signing with the Cavaliers. We are confident he will be a very good fit with our organization and we look forward to the many ways he will contribute to the team.”

JULY 24: The Cavaliers will sign Derrick Rose, Shams Charania of The Vertical reports (Twitter link). The point guard met with the organization earlier today and Charania adds that Rose has already completed his physical with the team.Derrick Rose vertical

The pact will be a one-year, minimum salary arrangement, David Aldridge of NBA.com tweets. It was previously reported that the two sides were in serious discussions about a one-year deal.

Rumors of Rose earning a max contract swirled earlier this season, but it appeared increasingly unlikely that he would land that kind of offer, particularly after suffering another knee injury late in the 2016/17 campaign.

Rose’s decision to join Cleveland comes just days after news of Kyrie Irving‘s trade demands became public. If the team intends to give Irving a new home, Rose should be able to get an opportunity to win as well as a chance to play a meaningful role.

The 2010/11 MVP was also considering the Lakers, a team in which he met with last week. Los Angeles may have been able to offer him an increased role, but the organization isn’t close to being championship contenders.

The Cavaliers will be Rose’s third team as he enters his 10th season. He spent eight years in Chicago before being dealt to the Knicks.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Derrick Rose Meeting With Cavs On Monday

Free agent point guard Derrick Rose is meeting with Cavaliers officials in Ohio on Monday to continue exploring the possibility of a deal with the club, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN. Previous reports have indicated that Rose and the Cavs have engaged in serious discussions about a one-year contract.

Cleveland is said to be offering Rose a minimum salary contract, which would only pay him about $2.1MM for the 2017/18 season. That would represent a significant pay cut for Rose, and it’s less than what he could earn from a team like the Lakers, who have their full $4.3MM room exception available. Rose met with the Lakers on Friday.

While the Cavaliers’ offer is modest, league sources tell Wojnarowski that Rose has been leaning toward the opportunity in Cleveland. The Cavs are a more viable contender than the Lakers, which is expected to be a key factor for the former MVP, and Kyrie Irving‘s trade request also figures to play a part in Rose’s interest.

With Irving on the roster, Rose would be part of a backup point guard rotation that also includes Jose Calderon, but if Irving doesn’t start the 2017/18 season in Cleveland, the door would be open for Rose to play a more substantial role. However, according to Wojnarowski, the Cavs haven’t gained traction toward a possible Irving deal yet, despite fielding multiple trade calls and offers in recent days.

Rose, who turns 29 in October, is coming off a season in which he struggled with his outside shot more than ever (.217 3PT%) and wasn’t an elite distributor or defender. Still, he continued to display an ability to get to the rim and put the ball in the net, averaging 18.0 PPG in 64 games with the Knicks.

Poll: Where Should Derrick Rose Sign?

Former first overall draft pick and the 2011 NBA Most Valuable Player Derrick Rose is nowhere near the player he used to be thanks to a litany of devastating leg injuries. However, he is coming off a productive offensive season and is easily the most coveted unrestricted free agent on the market.

Rose averaged 18.0 PPG, 4.4 APG, and 3.8 RPG last season with the Knicks, while shooting 47.1% from the field. The point guard also logged 32.5 minutes per his 64 contests, the most playing time he has had in the past four seasons. Despite Rose’s solid season, the rebuilding Knicks appear unlikely to bring him back.

Reports suggest that the leaders for Pooh’s services are the Cavaliers and Lakers. Cleveland will meet with Rose in the coming days and reportedly are offering him a starting position, either alongside Kyrie Irving or in Irving’s place if Cleveland’s point guard is traded. As for the Lakers, Rose had an approximately three-hour meeting with the purple and gold and reports indicate that the meeting went well for both sides. While it is unclear whether Rose would start for the Lake Show, he would be expected to mentor rookie Lonzo Ball on a much improved team.

Two other squads that have met with Rose in recent weeks are the Bucks and Clippers. The Bucks could appeal to Rose’s desire to win, boasting several rising stars in Giannis AntetokounmpoKhris Middleton, and Jabari Parker. Milwaukee is also coached by legendary point guard Jason Kidd and is situated very close to Chicago, where the family-minded Rose’s family resides. The Clippers already have Patrick Beverley and Milos Teodosic at point guard, as well as Austin Rivers, who is more of a combo guard, but when replacing Chris Paul, can a team ever really do too much?

What do you think? Where should Rose end up signing? Place your vote in our poll and then catapult into the comments section below to share your thoughts.

Central Division: Rose, Bucks, Tolliver

Don’t expect Derrick Rose to make his decision this weekend, contrary to previous reports suggesting that he would. Per Chris Haynes of ESPN, Rose will have a face-to-face meeting with the Cavaliers before ultimately making a decision next week.

After a decent if unspectacular lone season in New York, Rose has narrowed down a list of possible suitors to the Lakers and Cavs. His involvement with the latter could be impacted by recent revelations that starting point guard Kyrie Irving has requested a trade out of Cleveland.

While the parties are said to be engaged in a deal for the veteran’s minimum, the guard could see his role increase substantially if Irving gets his wish and is promptly moved.

There’s more from the Central Division:

  • Consider Pacers swingman Lance Stephenson among those “heartbroken” that Paul George and the franchise have parted ways. The pair remain friends, Scott Agness of Vigilant Sports writes.
  • Among those interviewing for positions in Jon Horst‘s front office with the Bucks is Knicks Director of Pro Player Personnel Mark Hughes, Ian Begley of ESPN writes. Hughes has played a large role in New York’s draft decisions over the course of the past decade.
  • The decision to bring Anthony Tolliver back aboard will pay off for the Pistons in veteran leadership, Rod Beard of the Detroit News writes. “He’s one of the highest-character guys in the NBA. What he will do in terms of leadership is important to our team, but it’s important that he’s a guy who can go out and play,” head coach Stan Van Gundy said.
  • The Pistons‘ chief goal this offseason was to improve their three-point shooting and Keith Langlois of the team’s official website writes that they’ve added a number of players that can help in that regard.

Derrick Rose Meeting With Lakers, Decision Expected Soon

2:07pm: Rose will likely make a decision this weekend, tweets Sam Amick of USA Today. The Lakers and Cavs appear to be the favorites, but Amick notes that Rose’s agent – B.J. Armstrong – has also been talking with the Bulls.

The Bulls are an unexpected addition — they already have a handful of point guards and a reunion with Rose doesn’t seem to make a lot of sense for the team at this point, so we’ll see if there’s any follow-up on that front.

1:15pm: The Cavaliers are reportedly engaged in “serious” discussions with Derrick Rose, but Cleveland isn’t the only team pursuing the veteran point guard. According to Chris Haynes and Ramona Shelburne of ESPN.com, the Lakers have a Thursday meeting lined up with Rose.

[RELATED: Available 2017 NBA Free Agents]

The Lakers have been in the market this summer for a veteran point guard to serve as a mentor for rookie – and Summer League MVP – Lonzo Ball. The club used its remaining cap room to sign Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, but still has the $4.328MM room exception available to offer free agents.

If Rose’s decision comes down to Cleveland vs. Los Angeles, he’ll have to weigh a handful of competing factors. ESPN’s report suggests that playing on a contender will be a consideration for Rose, and that would be a big check mark in the Cavs’ favor. Playing in Cleveland would also allow the former MVP to be closer to his family in Chicago.

However, the Lakers hope to pitch Rose on the fact that they can offer him a larger contract and more playing time, per ESPN. As Haynes tweets, sources say that Rose “just wants to play ball,” so if the Lakers can sell the free agent point guard on a significant, defined role, it’s possible they’ll gain the upper hand on the Cavs.

The Bucks have also met with Rose, though it’s not clear if they’re still in play as a potential landing spot.

Cavaliers In Serious Talks With Derrick Rose

11:06am: The Cavs are believed to be offering Rose a minimum salary deal, per Windhorst and Wojnarowski in their full ESPN report.

10:23am: Free agent point guard Derrick Rose is engaged in “serious” discussions with the Cavaliers about a possible one-year deal, sources tell Brian Windhorst and Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN (Twitter link).

The Cavs don’t have much cap flexibility to sign free agents, given how far their team salary currently is into tax territory. The club also used a little more than half of its $5.192MM mid-level exception to sign draft-and-stash prospect Cedi Osman, so if Rose were to come aboard, it would be for the rest of that MLE or the veteran’s minimum.

A minimum salary deal would be more advantageous for the Cavs, who face a substantial tax penalty for each additional dollar they spend. A one-year, minimum salary contract for Rose would pay him approximately $2.12MM, but would only count for about $1.47MM for cap purposes for Cleveland. A minimum salary deal would cost about an extra $7MM in tax penalties, based on the Cavs’ current team salary.

Whether Rose is willing to accept a minimum contract remains to be seen. He’s one of the top free agents still available, but the market for his services appears to be dwindling. Rose met with the Clippers earlier this month, but L.A. ultimately opted to sign Milos Teodosic to address the point guard spot. The Bucks seem to have been Rose’s most active suitor, having reportedly met with him twice. However, Milwaukee is inching closer to the tax line, limiting the club’s ability to make Rose an aggressive offer.

Rose, who turns 29 in October, is coming off a season in which he struggled with his outside shot more than ever (.217 3PT%) and wasn’t an elite distributor or defender. Still, he continues to display an ability to get to the rim and put the ball in the net, averaging 18.0 PPG in 64 games with the Knicks. The possibility of having him coming off the bench to provide a scoring punch for the Cavs is an intriguing idea.

Cleveland has already signed one backup for Kyrie Irving this summer, inking Jose Calderon to a minimum salary contract. While the team doesn’t necessarily need more depth at the position, Calderon and Rose possess very different skill-sets, so both could see playing time if Rose signs.

The news of the Cavs’ discussions with Rose arrives in the wake of Irving suggesting the team is in “a peculiar place,” and also comes just days after a report indicated that LeBron James is concerned about the club’s offseason.

Bucks Expected To Meet With Derrick Rose For Second Time

The Bucks are expecting to meet with Derrick Rose for the second time this summer, Chris Haynes of ESPN.com reports. The two sides previously met to discuss his fit alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo, Khris Middleton, and Malcolm Brogdon.

Haynes adds the compensation remains the main obstacle stopping Rose from joining the team.

Milwaukee is currently over the tax by approximately $1.6MM, though it still has the tax-payer’s mid-level exception at its disposal. That exception comes with a starting salary of roughly $5.19MM, as Luke Adams of Hoops Rumors recently outlined. The club has used a small portion of it to sign Sterling Brown.

The organization may need to shed salary in order to make a competitive offer. Haynes suggests that John Henson could be a prime trade candidate should they make that sort of move.

Clippers Sign Milos Teodosic

Aug 19, 2016; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Serbia point guard Milos Teodosic (4) shoots the ball against Australia power forward Aron Baynes (12) during the men's basketball semifinal in the Rio 2016 Summer Olympic Games at Carioca Arena 1. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Swinger-USA TODAY SportsJULY 10, 3:27pm: Teodosic has officially signed his contract with the Clippers, according to a tweet sent out by his agency.

JULY 6, 1:44pm: European point guard Milos Teodosic has reached an agreement with the Clippers, tweets Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.com. It will be a two-year, $12.3MM contract with a player option on the second season (Twitter link).

Several teams have been in competition for the 30-year-old, who is considered to be one of the top players outside the NBA. He was reportedly seeking a three-year deal worth $25MM to $30MM, but his new contract is substantially less, at least in the first season.

The Heat, Kings, Nuggets, Jazz, Nets, Bulls and Timberwolves were among the other teams that expressed interest. Minnesota offered its room exception, but understood that he could get more money elsewhere, tweets Darren Wolfson of 5 Eyewitness News. Brooklyn decided that Teodosic’s defensive shortcomings made him a poor candidate for big money or big minutes, according to NetsDaily (Twitter link).

A star with Serbia at the 2016 Olympics, Teodosic made his current team, CSKA Moscow, one of the best in the Euroleague. He has averaged 16.1 points per game over the past two seasons and 6.5 assists over the last three. The Russian squad was hoping to keep him, but admitted that it couldn’t compete financially with NBA teams.

Teodosic’s signing may end the Clippers’ interest in Derrick Rose, who met with the team on Wednesday. With Patrick Beverley and Lou Williams already on the roster, there doesn’t seem to be any room for Rose.

Mavericks Not In Mix For Derrick Rose?

4:49pm: The Mavericks aren’t expected to be in the market for Rose after all, a source tells Eddie Sefko of The Dallas Morning News (Twitter link).

4:20pm: The Mavericks appear to be in the mix for Derrick Rose, according to Marc Berman of The New York Post, who reports (via Twitter) that Dallas is emerging as a “serious contender” for the free agent point guard.

Dallas was linked to several notable point guards, including Jrue Holiday, in the weeks leading up to free agency. However, there wasn’t a clear path for the Mavs to pick up cap room for a deal near the maximum, and the team used its lottery pick to nab Dennis Smith Jr.

If the Mavs are still in the market for a veteran point guard to pair with Smith though, a tentative deal with Dirk Nowitzki will make things easier for the club to accommodate such a signing. Nowitzki is reportedly close to finalizing a two-year, $10MM contract to return to the franchise. His pay cut should give the Mavs up to about $15MM cap room with which to operate, even as Nerlens Noel‘s cap hit remains on the books.

Rose, 28, is coming off a season in which he averaged 18.0 PPG and 4.4 APG in 64 games for the Knicks. He has been linked to a handful of teams so far this month, though one potential suitor – the Clippers – went another direction today, striking a deal with Euroleague point guard Milos Teodosic.

Knicks Rumors: Rondo, Point Guards, Smart

The Knicks have been in touch with free agent point guard Rajon Rondo, according to Michael Scotto of Basketball Insiders (Twitter link). However, the two sides haven’t set up a meeting at this point, per Adam Zagoria of ZagsBlog (Twitter link).

While a report on July 1 indicated that New York had reached out to Rondo’s camp, Marc Berman of The New York Post suggests that the club didn’t formally make contact until today (Twitter link). Ian Begley of ESPN.com, who initially reported the team’s contact with Rondo on Saturday, reiterates that account, though he acknowledges that “no substantive conversation” happened over the weekend.

Regardless of when the Knicks first touched base with Rondo and his reps, it’s clear that the team continues to explore all its options as it contemplates adding a veteran guard to the roster. Here’s more on that search:

  • Some people who have been in contact with the Knicks recently got the impression that the team’s interest in Rondo isn’t particularly strong, per Begley.
  • The Knicks have heard from the Celtics, who are open to trading Marcus Smart, but it’s not clear whether or not New York is interested in Smart, writes Begley.
  • Derrick Rose and Shelvin Mack remain on the Knicks’ radar, according to Begley, who hears that the team is on the lookout for a mentor for rookie point guard Frank Ntilikina.