Ja Morant Breaks Silence On Grizzlies Signing Derrick Rose

Rose, who played his college basketball at Memphis, is signing a two-year, $6.5 million deal with the Grizzlies. Morant will miss the first 25 games of next season and Memphis traded Tyus Jones to the Washington Wizards, so adding Rose gives the Grizzlies a proven veteran who can score, pass and mentor guys in the locker room.

Rose could start for the Grizzlies until Morant is back, although we won’t know that for sure until the regular season starts.

The 34-year-old Rose signed a three-year, $43.6 million contract with the New York Knicks in August 2021. The three-time All-Star has only played in 53 games since signing that contract, averaging 8.7 points, 2.2 rebounds and 2.8 assists.

Rose appeared in 26 games in 2021-22 before undergoing season-ending ankle surgery and only 27 games this past season. He was removed from the playing rotation in early December. Rose, who turns 35 in October, averaged a career-low 5.6 points in 2022-23.

During the 2010-11 season, Rose became the youngest MVP in NBA history with his hometown Chicago Bulls. He averaged 25.0 points, 4.1 rebounds and 7.7 assists and led Chicago to the best record in the NBA. The Bulls made it to the 2011 Eastern Conference Finals, where they lost to LeBron James and the Miami Heat in five games.

Rose has career averages of 17.7 points, 3.3 rebounds and 5.3 assists with the Bulls, Knicks, Cleveland Cavaliers, Minnesota Timberwolves and Detroit Pistons. He turns has undergone four knee surgeries and two ankle surgeries since winning the MVP Award in 2011.

Morant will be mentored by Rose, who was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2008 draft. The Grizzlies also traded for Marcus Smart from the Boston Celtics, giving Morant another veteran mentor.