LeBron: 'We hope this ain't the end' for Rose, but 'want the best for him'

The Cleveland Cavaliers may not be missing Derrick Rose on the court, but they're keeping the beleaguered point guard in their thoughts as he takes some time away from the team and ponders his NBA future.

After LeBron James and the Cavs beat the Charlotte Hornets (again) to collect their seventh straight win Friday night, James was asked what Rose's crossroads moment means for Rose and for the team.

"I don't think it means too much for the team," James told reporters, via ESPN. "But I think, more importantly, as one of (our) brothers and somebody that we got to know these last couple months, whatever he decides to do, we want the best for him."

Rose has been away from the Cavs for nearly a week, and is reportedly considering retirement because his chronic injuries are "taking a toll on him mentally." The one-time phenom has had multiple knee surgeries over the past several years, and has missed 280 games since his MVP season in 2010-11.

Things have reached a nadir this season. He's appeared in just seven of 19 games for Cleveland due to ankle injuries, and when he's been healthy enough to play, he's been at best ineffective, and at worst actively destructive. (He's played just 20 percent of the Cavs' total minutes, but if you removed them, the team would jump from 29th in defensive rating to 22nd.)

"At the end of the day, you can't substitute nothing for happiness," James said. "Obviously, we know the injuries he's been going through throughout his whole career. We hope this ain't the end, but if it is, I was happy I got an opportunity to spend a couple months with him and watch him be the great point guard that he once was.

"But at the end of the day, a clear head, there's no substitute for that. We want the best for Derrick. No matter if he comes back, no matter if he doesn't, we want him as an individual, as a man, as a father, to be just happy with whatever decision he makes."