The script has very quickly been flipped on Derrick Rose this season. After a disappointing, tumultuous season with the New York Knicks, the 29-year-old Rose signed with the Cleveland Cavaliers and hoped to get starting time as a guard while Isaiah Thomas recovered from a hip injury.
His own injuries soon came back to haunt him, however, and he even left the Cavaliers in November in order to determine whether he wanted to continue playing basketball at all. After some shoe contract controversy and a bit of introspection, Rose returned to Cleveland.
Rose was back in the Cavs lineup in January against the Magic, but the trade deadline move to acquire Rodney Hood and George Hill sent Rose out of Cleveland altogether. The Utah Jazz quickly put Rose on waivers and according to the New York Times‘ Mark Stein, Rose might have to wait until after the All-Star break to find a new team.
With the All-Star break fast approaching, league sources say it’s increasingly possible Derrick Rose’s future won’t be resolved until after the break when teams resume practicing
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) February 13, 2018
It was quickly reported after his trade on Thursday that the Minnesota Timberwolves — and more specifically former Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau — were interested in Rose’s services. The Washington Wizards were also reportedly inquiring about Rose due to the injury that’s keeping John Wall out of the lineup. But now it seems that teams are willing to wait until things get settled after the break.
That means it’s Rose, not an NBA team, that’s suddenly waiting on the other. It’s been a weird season for Rose, and many seasons in his career can be given that label, but professionally-speaking this one just might be the oddest.
