With 13 players under contract, the Los Angeles Lakers have the majority of their roster filled out. One major hole that the team intends to fill soon, however, is their backup point guard spot.
Rookie Lonzo Ball is penciled in as the starter there, but Magic Johnson and Rob Pelinka have spoken about wanting to get a veteran behind him to be a mentor. Players like Ian Clark and Isaiah Canaan have been mentioned as possibilities as has bringing back Tyler Ennis. Now another name has emerged as a possibility in former NBA MVP, Derrick Rose.
According to ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne, the Lakers will meet with Rose and pitched him on joining the Lakers:
Story posting shortly with @ChrisBHaynes on Lakers pitch and meeting with Derrick Rose today
— Ramona Shelburne (@ramonashelburne) July 20, 2017
The Lakers will have to do a very good job of selling Rose on coming to Los Angeles with the Cleveland Cavaliers pursing him, according to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst:
Derrick Rose is in serious talks with the Cavs on a 1-year deal, sources tell @wojespn and me.
— Brian Windhorst (@WindhorstESPN) July 20, 2017
Rose undoubtedly fits the bill as far as being a veteran who can teach Ball the tricks of the trade. Additionally, Rose is arguably the most talented of any potential backup point guard options.
While he has never been able to regain his pre-injury form, Rose has still shown flashes of being able to attack the basket and finish at the rim. With the New York Knicks last year, Rose averaged 18.0 points and 4.4 assists in 64 games.
The question is whether or not the Lakers can convince Rose that joining the young, upstart Lakers on a one-year deal is a better move than the defending Eastern Conference Champions. While Rose would likely get more consistent playing time with the Lakers, the chance to compete for a championship may be too much for Rose to pass on.
