The Timberwolves were reportedly hot on Derrick Rose’s tail after the trade deadline, when the Cavaliers traded and Jazz waived him. But there was enough delay that questions emerged whether Rose was finished in the NBA entirely.
Alas, Minnesota went through with it.
Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN:
Free agent guard Derrick Rose is signing with Minnesota for the rest of the season, league sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) March 8, 2018
Rose is technically a former MVP still in his 20s, but that’s such an inaccurate way to describe him now. Sapped by injuries perhaps lost desire, Rose is barely NBA-caliber anymore.
Minnesota’s rotation point guards, Jeff Teague and Tyus Jones, are far better than Rose. Third-string point guard Aaron Brooks is about as good.
Even with Jimmy Butler injured, the Timberwolves don’t need Rose’s shot creation – perhaps his lone remaining plus skill. They should get the ball more to the ultra-efficient Karl-Anthony Towns. Andrew Wiggins and Jamal Crawford are also comfortable shouldering large offensive loads.
This signing is clearly happening because Timberwolves president-coach Tom Thibodeau previously coached Rose in Chicago.
The opportunity cost of using a roster spot on Rose is bad enough. Minnesota needs help on the wing. But the biggest problem comes if Thibodeau actually plays Rose over Jones.
There’s always a chance Thibodeau taps into Rose’s potential. Gibson is having a resurgent year, after all. But Rose looks finished in ways Gibson never did, and Teague and Jones already provide a formidable 1-2 at at point guard.
The Timberwolves (38-28) have just a 2.5-game buffer over the Nuggets and Jazz for playoff position. Minnesota is trying to end a 13-season postseason drought. The stakes are high there.
The best-case scenario of this signing might be it ending up harmless. The downside is Rose getting a rotation spot and costing the Timberwolves wins that would have gotten them into the playoffs.
