Report: Timberwolves interested in Derrick Rose
Tom Thibodeau might want his old point guard back.
The Minnesota Timberwolves view free-agent guard Derrick Rose as a potential acquisition for the offseason, ESPN's Ian Begley reports.
Rose spent a disastrous 2016-17 campaign with the New York Knicks, during which he found himself battling injuries and harrowing headlines.
He opened the preseason by fighting a civil lawsuit for rape - a case in which he and two associates were cleared of wrongdoing - which stalled his learning curve with the Knicks' triangle offense. Rose then grumbled repeatedly about that offense throughout the season as New York fell out of playoff contention by the All-Star break. He also mysteriously no-showed for a game in February, and later saw his season cut short by meniscus surgery.
Thibodeau, however, saw Rose in happier times when they were sitting atop the Eastern Conference with the Chicago Bulls. Rose became the youngest MVP in league history under Thibodeau's watch, made three All-Star appearances, and cemented the Bulls as a perennial playoff team.
The 28-year-old Rose would bring veteran experience as a polished pick-and-roll player to a young Timberwolves side in desperate need of organization around their prodigal talents. Rose averaged 18 points and 4.4 assists last season while hitting 47.1 percent from the field.
Thibodeau holds final say over roster decisions in Minnesota, and the team will have roughly $20 million to make any additions.