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SportsLine Projection: What's the difference between Kyrie Irving and Derrick Rose?
The Cavaliers are reportedly close to adding Derrick Rose, and they're expected to deal Kyrie Irving soon. Find out the impact from the SportsLine Projection Model.
Derrick Rose has reportedly agreed to a one-year, veteran minimum deal with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
With Cleveland's current point guard, Kyrie Irving, requesting a trade and likely headed elsewhere, we asked the SportsLine Projection Model to calculate the impact on the Cavs.
Of course the Cavs could reel in a boatload of talent if they trade Irving. But not knowing who those players would be, for this scenario we simply added Rose and subtracted Irving from the roster.
And the results were striking:
Cleveland's championship chances would fall by a whopping 34 percent. Instead of a 17.5 percent chance to reclaim the crown, the Cavs would have an 11.6 percent shot.
The model sees Cleveland winning 52.6 games with Rose, instead of 55.2 with Irving.
Although Rose averaged 18 points and 4.4 assists with the Knicks last season, at this point in his career he's not in Irving's league.
According to John Hollinger's Player Efficiency Ratings, Irving posted a PER of 23.09 last season, which ranked 24th in the NBA.
Rose clocked in at 17.05 -- which ranked 85th.
So if the Cavs don't get a ton for Irving, they're going to be further from a championship, even with Rose now in the equation.
Larry Hartstein
