Former NBA MVP Derrick Rose is looking for a new contract, and he just might get it in Los Angeles.
According to a report from ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, Rose will meet with officials from the Los Angeles Clippers this week.
L.A. recently completed a deal to trade Chris Paul to the Houston Rockets, as well as re-signed forward Blake Griffin.
They will need more ball handlers at Staples Center, but it’s unclear whether Rose would fit in as a major carrier of minutes for the Clippers, especially in a strengthened Western Conference.
Via Twitter:
Free agent guard Derrick Rose will meet with the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday, league sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 5, 2017
Rose didn’t have a terrible statistical year last season for the New York Knicks, but he is certainly not a starting point guard in the NBA for a playoff hopeful squad, especially out west.
Rose has lost a lot of explosiveness, and poor decision-making at times last season didn’t even allow him to be a useful contributor. His assist percentage was down from his career average, had a net rating of -7, and a 0.0 value over replacement player according to Basketball Reference.
Couple that that with more time lost to injury -- Rose played in just 64 games last season -- and it’s hard to wonder whether he fits in on a team with Griffin as the new unquestioned leader. To be fair, we don’t know what role the clippers will be asking Rose to take. There was talk in New York last season of Rose still wanting a major deal, but if he ends up as a backup for the Clippers that could be an upgrade over the current players on the roster.
The important thing is that NBA free agency continues to be weird. I’m here for it.