One interesting aspect of the blockbuster trade that sent Rodney Hood to Cleveland was that Derrick Rose got moved over to Utah. It’s not necessarily interesting because of what Rose could do as a member of the Jazz, but rather, it is interesting because Rose is a prime candidate for being released and hitting the free agent market.
As it turns out, Rose appears to be headed towards unemployment. A report by Shams Charania of Yahoo! Sports indicates that the Jazz plan on parting ways with Rose after his trade to Utah becomes official.
Utah will likely release former NBA MVP Derrick Rose, league sources tell Yahoo.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 8, 2018
This makes sense for both sides, as Rose is a weird fit on a Jazz team that prioritizes ball movement and defense. Plus Rose is the kind of veteran who can ring chase if he wants, and that opportunity doesn’t really exist in Utah right now.
As for where he can go once he hits the open market, one team seems like it might be eager to acquire his services. That would be the Minnesota Timberwolves, which are led by Rose’s former head coach in Chicago, Tom Thibodeau.
The Timberwolves will try to sign Derrick Rose if he clears waivers after his looming release by Utah, according to league sources
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) February 8, 2018
It turns out that Rose would also be interested in a reunion with the coach under whom he won an MVP award.
With Tom Thibodeau in charge, Minnesota is a natural landing spot for Derrick Rose, who has interest in a reunion, league sources say
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) February 8, 2018
Minnesota has Jeff Teague entrenched as its starting point guard, while Tyus Jones has given the team good minutes as his backup. It stands to reason that Rose would not start over Teague, so logic would dictate he would come on board under this scenario and cut into Jones’ minutes. That is, obviously, pure speculation, but it does seem like a plausible outcome in the event a Bulls reunion happens in Minnesota.
