Cleveland Cavaliers head coach Tyronn Lue doesn't even need to see his new-look team practice together for the first time. He already knows which player will get the first crack at filling Kyrie Irving's massive shoes, naming Derrick Rose the starting point guard.
"Been a starter his whole career, former MVP," Lue said during Media Day on Monday afternoon. "Feel very confident that we can hold down the fort until Isaiah (Thomas) gets back."
The Cavs are hopeful Thomas will be able to return to the court by January. For now, he will take things easy, continuing to rehab after a frustrating hip injury that shut him down all summer. Whether Thomas gets back to his previous form -- an All-Star point guard who was in consideration for MVP and finished as the Celtics' third-leading scorer -- is one of the many questions that currently hovers over the start of Cavs training camp.
When Thomas gets back, the Cavs will have more to consider. Until then, Rose will occupy that spot, and Lue said pointedly he believes the one-time MVP can still be the lead guard on a championship team.
Rose makes sense as the starter, given the spacing that’s provided by J.R. Smith, LeBron James (when his jumper is on) and Kevin Love. Also, it allows LeBron a break from having to almost single-handedly provide playmaking duties against opposing starting units.
Dwyane Wade has been linked to the Cavaliers, and he might have something to say about Rose’s starting spot, but for now, it’s Rose’s job. We’ll see if he holds onto it.
