Free agent point guard Derrick Rose continues to offer some promise for potential teams. The former MVP is still only 28 years old and showed he still has something left in the tank last year with the New York Knicks.
As free agency winds down, Rose is one of the top remaining names left on the market and he has begun narrowing down his choices to where he will play next season. According to Sam Amick of USA Today, Rose is likely to choose between the Lakers, Cavaliers, and Bulls this weekend:
Derrrick Rose likely to pick team this weekend, I'm told. Cavs, Lakers, reported, but talks w/ his agent, BJ Armstrong, & Bulls too.
— Sam Amick (@sam_amick) July 20, 2017
The Lakers and Cavs are the favorites to land Rose and each offers something completely different. The Cavaliers would give Rose the opportunity to win a championship as they’ve made the NBA Finals three straight seasons and will again be the favorite to come out of the Eastern Conference this year.
The Lakers on the other hand would offer Rose more money, as they still have their mid-level exception, and likely more minutes as a backup to rookie point guard Lonzo Ball. Playing in Los Angeles is also a draw as the Lakers still have one of the biggest followings in the entire NBA as evidenced by their recent Summer League ratings.
Returning to the Bulls would be a surprise to most as Chicago got rid of him only a year ago. Rose, however, is a Chicago native so a return home may be something he would prefer.
Rose’s fit with the Lakers will be a question mark as he has normally been someone who works with the ball in his hands in isolation or pick-and-roll situations. The Lakers and head coach Luke Walton are preaching constant ball and player movement however, and Rose’s spot-up shooting has never been a strength.
In addition to Rose, former Warriors guard Ian Clark has been mentioned as a possibility for the Lakers as has retaining Tyler Ennis who ended the season very well for the franchise.
Last season, Rose averaged 18.0 points and 4.4 assists in 64 games for the Knicks.
