Cleveland Cavaliers: How Derrick Rose and Dwyane Wade can coexist in the second unit

No, it didn’t work in the starting lineup. Yet, Derrick Rose and Dwyane Wade can coexist in the Cleveland Cavaliers second unit.

After taking a personal leave of absence to determine his NBA future, Derrick Rose is returning to the Cleveland Cavaliers but there won’t be a return to the starting lineup. Instead, he’ll come off the bench and share point guard duties with Dwyane Wade.

At least Cavs head coach Tyronn Lue alluded to as much when explaining why Wade wouldn’t need to be the point guard of the second unit to maintain his success:

(Quote transcribed by cleveland.com’s Joe Vardon)

"“There’s still ways to get him the ball,” Lue said. “Just coming off the second side, still running the same action, so he can handle or D Rose can handle. Not a problem.”"

Wade has been averaging 14.6 points, rebounds, 3.8 assists, 1.3 steals and 1.0 block per game during the Cavs’ win streak. He’s made 48.9 percent of his field goal attempts and 50.0 percent of his shots behind the arc while scoring in double-figures in his last seven contests.

Wade hasn’t just been one of the Cavs better players. He’s been one of their veteran leaders, a factor that could help Rose get comfortable (mentally) in his new role when returns.

During Rose’s absence, Iman Shumpert and Jose Calderon performed well as spot starters and, although Shumpert will be out for more than a month after undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery, the continuity and chemistry the team has built since Rose’s injury shouldn’t be understated. Especially with the Cavs on a 12-game winning streak.

There will obviously be new additions to the rotation, as Isaiah Thomas (who has yet to play this season) and Tristan Thompson inch closer to their return to the court.

Yet, Thomas will simply start in the place of Shumpert while Shumpert finds himself in the second unit – a unit that has a place for a defensive-minded guard with Shumpert’s offensive skillset.

Thompson would be best utilized in units with lead guards that are above-average three-point threats. Though Kevin Love’s disdain for the physical challenges presented by playing center was clear early, he’s been able to dominate at the center position during the Cavs’ win streak. It’s helping LeBron James attack the rim with less resistance.

As a result, while Thompson was the Cavs’ full-time starter at center last season, he could very well come off the bench when he returns.

Adding Rose to the rotation should result in him coming off the bench for the reason Thompson should and Wade is.

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Why is Thompson on the bench? The Cavs ain’t broke and there’s nothing to be fixed by completely changing the floor spacing dynamic (and having five players who can put the ball on the floor and attack the rim).

Why is Wade? Because placing square pegs in a round hole isn’t an ideal way to maximize the potency of your rotation.

The round hole is the Cavs’ need to start a team-first three-point threat at point guard. A playmaker. The square peg is the player who doesn’t fit that mold.

Rose is an attacking point guard who has been particularly fixated on his numbers (both on and off the court) this season. He can be a playmaker but he hasn’t been a consistent playmaker since the preseason.

However, Rose coming off the bench, Wade will have the ball in his hands less and that isn’t a great thing as Wade is a better playmaker and more versatile scorer than Rose. In addition, playing them with Jeff Green and Thompson, players who aren’t “shooters”, is dangerous because of the lack of space that they’ll have to maneuver.

Lue will need to not only stagger Rose and Wade’s minutes but he’ll need to be conscious about the spacing. Although the Cavs run their offense through the post and Rose will have his chances to score on cuts or kickouts, Lue will still need play either guard within a lineup that has at least two shooters.

Namely, Channing Frye and Kyle Korver.

Frye will give Rose and Wade to attack the rim. Korver opens up a world of possibilities with his three-point marksmanship and the attention he commands on the perimeter.

With the Cavs focus on moving the ball around, exploiting mismatches and off-ball player movement, there’s a chance that the game opens up options for Rose that it simply didn’t exist at the start of the season. He could look much more dynamic in the second unit than he did with the starters as a result.

Lue is right in saying Rose’s pace, speed, energy and ability to get to the rim will help the Cavs. Contrary to popular belief, it’s the Cavs’ ability to dominate from the interior that opens up their shots outside.

With Rose on the floor, so long as he’s focused on team basketball their offensive efficacy could be enhanced.

I’ll keep this brief but while Rose and Wade aren’t lockdown perimeter defenders and can beaten off-the-dribble by quick athletes, both are underestimated on this end. They generally play with plenty of effort while being strong and experienced defenders. With the chemistry built on defense, rotations are more crisp while the team itself has become more scrappy. Scrappiness that becomes somewhat of an equalizer for athleticism.

Rose can coexist with Wade on paper. It just needs to be proven on the hardwood.

*All stats gathered from www.basketball-reference.com