The Cleveland Cavaliers are carrying a 10-game winning streak into tonight's game with the struggling Memphis Grizzlies (7-14). They are also winning the games despite injuries to key players including three guards in Isaiah Thomas, Derrick Rose, and Iman Shumpert, as well as big center Tristan Thompson. While Thomas is expected back by Christmas and Thompson plans to return next week, Shumpert is out for at least two months and Rose has been contemplating retiring from the NBA.
However, Derrick Rose has been in contract with the Cleveland Cavaliers front office.
What is Derrick Rose planning?
Cleveland Cavaliers beat writer Joe Vardon reported that both head coach Tyronn Lue and general manager Koby Altman said on Saturday that they have both been in contact with Derrick Rose as he misses games due to his ankle injury. This is huge news because previous news reports indicated that Rose had gone into seclusion from his teammates and was considering quitting basketball completely.
According to Vardon, both coach and general manager said that they have engaged in what they call "positive communication" with Derrick Rose about a possible return to the Cleveland Cavaliers.
The biggest problem for Rose was that he has suffered numerous injuries since his MVP season and was tiring of getting hurt every year.
Rose seemed like he would rather retire instead of returning and risking yet another injury to work through. Not only would Rose give up what the Cavaliers still owe him for his one-year deal but he would also forfeit $80 million in his Adidas endorsement deal.
Derrick Rose has talked retirement since last season. When playing with the New York Knicks, he said he might play three more seasons and then retire.
Even if he waited, he would still lose endorsement money since there are seven years remaining on his contract with Adidas.
Derrick Rose and the Cavaliers
When it comes to Derrick Rose and the Cleveland Cavaliers, there are mixed opinions on if the team even needs Rose anymore. Rose has been out of action since Nov. 9 and the Cavaliers 10-game winning streak proves they have the power to still compete in the Eastern Conference even without the former MVP.
Plus, Isaiah Thomas will be back in a matter of weeks and Dwyane Wade has been playing extremely well as the point guard from the bench for the Cleveland Cavaliers. With their success, LeBron James is not even in a hurry to welcome Derrick Rose back to the team.
"You don't ever fast-track someone's process of what they may be going through," James said. When they're ready to talk about it or ready to bring it to the forefront, as his teammates we'll be ready for it."
