Grizzlies to sign Derrick Rose, former Memphis basketball star, in free agency
The Memphis Grizzlies are expected to sign former MVP Derrick Rose, a source with direct knowledge of the deal confirmed to The Commercial Appeal.
The source spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal can't be finalized until after the NBA's negotiating period, which began Friday.
The contract is expected to be a two-year guaranteed deal reportedly worth $6.5 million.
Rose averaged 5.6 points in 12.5 minutes per game last season for the New York Knicks. The 34-year-old point guard has played 14 seasons and is a three-time all-star. He adds depth in the backcourt, but his addition brings more than that.
Rose was a college standout in one season for the Memphis Tigers before turning pro and becoming the youngest MVP in NBA history. Current Grizzlies all-star point guard Ja Morant has often been compared to Rose, and he has credited Rose for paving the way for guards like himself.
“He really made it to where people believe in guys like me," Morant said after recording 27 points, 10 rebounds and 14 assists in November of 2022 against the Knicks. "Coming in, athletic guards, I felt like he was pretty much the one who kind of made it more famous. With how acrobatic his finish is, his touch around the rim, and how explosive he was. Coming in, he was my comparison. It’s crazy to be out there on the floor sharing a court with him.”
While Rose fell out of the rotation with the Knicks last season, he was a valuable depth piece the previous two seasons, when he averaged 12 points in 26 games during the 2021-22 season and 14.9 points the previous season.
With Morant suspended for 25 games following a viral video purporting to show him with a gun, the Grizzlies needed to add another guard in order to play Marcus Smart, Desmond Bane and Luke Kennard together in long stretches or potentially in a starting lineup.
Rose is still an effective scorer who thrives with a floater and has worked on refining his 3-pointer in the latter years of his career. Before last season, Rose averaged more than double figures in the previous four years while shooting at least 37% on 3-pointers in three of those seasons.
This move puts the Grizzlies at 15 players on their roster. While some fans were hoping for the addition of another wing, the Grizzlies have created depth on the wing by drafting three players in the first round in the 2021 and 2022 drafts combined.
This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Grizzlies to sign Derrick Rose, former Memphis star, in free agency
