Former league MVP Derrick Rose came to a decision on Monday afternoon by to sign with the Cleveland Cavaliers on a one-year, $2.1 million deal.
According to Chris Haynes of ESPN, the 28-year-old has chosen to join the Cavaliers for one simple reason.
The Cavaliers provide him the best chance to win as he’s joining the top team in the Eastern Conference that has reached three straight NBA Finals. They have proven to be head and shoulders above the rest of the conference which was evident by their dominant 12-1 record through the Eastern Conference Finals.
These factors made it easier for Rose to accept the veteran’s minimum deal, which is a far cry from his initial expectation of a max contract.
Rose is coming off a productive first campaign with the Knicks where he averaged 18.0 points on 47.1 percent shooting from the field along with 4.4 assists and 3.8 rebounds in 32.5 minutes per game, appearing in 64 contests. However, there are some concerns about his health as he has undergone four separate surgeries on his knees.
The three-time All-Star may be in for a large role with the Cavaliers next season if they do in fact decide to grant Kyrie Irving‘s wish to be traded. He would likely assume the starting point guard role and the team’s second scoring option behind LeBron James if Irving were to be moved at any point this offseason.
