Cleveland Cavaliers point guard Derrick Rose hasn’t played since November 7. 


The former league MVP has been dealing with a sprained left ankle, the latest of what has been an unfortunately-long lower-body career injury list. During his rehab, he famously left the team to contemplate his future with the club and seemingly with the sport of basketball in general.


He later dispelled the rumors that he was thinking about retirement while away from the team and has been back with the club for the last couple of weeks, working towards making yet another comeback. 


In seven starts at the beginning of the season, he averaged 14.3 points, 2.6 rebounds and 1.7 assists in 26.9 minutes. 


When he returns, he will most likely fit onto the team’s second unit alongside future Hall of Famer Dwyane Wade, a notion that would have seemed ridiculous and impossible just a couple of seasons ago. 


On Friday, coach Tyronn Lue said that Rose could make his return to the court sometime on Cleveland’s upcoming five-game road trip. 


He might not receive too much playing time, however. Since Isaiah Thomas will be the starting point guard and Wade will take on the primary ball-handling role on the second unit, Rose could be limited to playing only when Wade rests. 


"I think playing D Wade on a lot of back to backs has been tough for him," Lue told reporters Friday, after the team practiced in Orlando, per Joe Vardon of Cleveland.com. "Some games where he doesn't feel great, but we don't really have the extra ball handler to sit him. So when D Rose gets back, he'll definitely help with that and help with D Wade getting his rest and being able to feel good on the floor.”


Wade informed Lue that he’s fine with the concept of being spelled by Rose.


"I talked to him already," Lue said. "(Wade is) 50 years old, so, sometimes you just don't have it. But with all the guys being out, just don't have the luxury right now. So we talked about it. He understands and he's for it.”


Rose doesn’t seem to care how many minutes he plays.


"It's whatever they want," Rose explained. "I'm not trying to be a distraction to the team or anything like that. I'm here to be a professional about any situation I get put into and to own up to it and be a man about it. I just want to win. No matter how many minutes I'm playing, I'm not a stat guy. I did all that in the past, now it's time for me to win a championship."


If Rose and Wade can stay healthy for the rest of the season, the Cavaliers will most likely boast the most high-profile second unit in NBA history heading into the playoffs.