Derrick Rose free agency rumors to the Timberwolves don’t make much sense

Derrick Rose could find himself playing for Tom Thibodeau once again. The Minnesota Timberwolves view Rose as a potential free agent target this summer, according to ESPN.com’s Ian Begley.

It will be the first time Rose enters free agency after spending the bulk of his career with the Chicago Bulls and last season with the New York Knicks. The 28-year-old guard built a bond with Thibodeau during his head coaching days in Chicago, where he helped lead the Bulls to a string of deep postseason runs.

It was under Thibodeau, now president and head coach in Minnesota, that Rose was able to capture 2011 NBA Most Valuable Player of the Year honors.

But Rose is going on seven seasons removed from that MVP season and has endured several devastating injuries that have derailed his career. He’s torn an ACL, torn a meniscus, and tore it again before tearing the other meniscus last season with the Knicks.

Still, the Timberwolves seem to value Rose, who averaged 18 points, 4.4 assists, and 3.8 rebounds in 64 games for a Knicks team that finished 31-51. Minnesota and New York discussed a Rose swap for Ricky Rubio at the trade deadline, but Phil Jackson pushed for additional pieces as part of the deal.

Minnesota would need to use cap space to sign Rose. The Timberwolves have around $79.3 million committed in salaries for next season, and that doesn’t include the cap holds on restricted free agent Shabazz Muhammad ($7.6 million), Adreian Payne ($3.1 million), Omri Casspi, Tayshaun Prince, and Othyus Jeffers ($1.5 million each).

They could also waive Nikola Pekovic, who missed the 2016-17 season after battling a rash of foot injuries, using the same provision the Miami Heat may waive Chris Bosh with. That would create an additional $11.6 million of cap space.

If Minnesota renounced each of those free agents, they could sign Rose to a deal paying no more than around $23 million next season. Rose made $21.5 million last season and said he would look for a max contract in January, but he’d be lucky to command anything close to that much as a free agent this summer. Instead, he’ll likely land a contract closer to that of Eric Gordon, who signed a four-year, $53 million deal with the Rockets last summer after recurring injuries hampered his promising career.

Gordon has since bounced back from those injuries, though, and the belief is likely that Rose can do the same. Minnesota using some of its cap space on Rose, however, would limit the Timberwolves in free agency where they need to address a bevy of needs.

It would also leave them with two starting point guards and a lukewarm market on Rubio.

Acquiring Rose also wouldn’t address any immediate need for the Timberwolves. As Canis Hoopus’ John Meyer noted, Minnesota’s already got Rubio and a young Kris Dunn.

Writes Meyer:

“Wing defenders, toughness, veteran leadership, and shooting are real needs. Even if [the point guard position] were, Rose is hardly the player the organization should be looking at if they want to go in a different direction at point guard, and that’s to say nothing about his questionable character. This is what makes the constant rumors both frustrating to read and almost unbelievable.”

This is the second time Rose has been connected with Thibodeau since he was traded to the Knicks last summer. Thibodeau preaches defense and 200 percent effort on every play. Rose echoed similar sentiments in the Knicks’ locker room throughout the season.

But he also brought a perpetuated the media circus in New York, first with his early season civil sexual assault case — which he was cleared of all charges on — and next with a no-show for a Jan. 10 game against the Pelicans.

Thibbs knew how to get the best out of Rose, but it’s clear some things haven’t changed. Andrew Wiggins and Karl-Anthony Towns ranked Nos. 1 and 2 in the league in minutes played last season. No other players in the NBA recorded over 3,000 minutes. Zach LaVine played 1,749 minutes, but that was through just 47 games before he suffered a season-ending torn ACL.

At this point in his career, Rose can ill-afford another devastating knee injury, especially not after a minor torn meniscus tarnished his 2016-17 season.

Rose proved he can still get to the rack with the Knicks last season, leading the NBA in points off drives per game for a chunk of the year.

He also showed, however, there is still work to be done with his decision-making off the dribble. Rose often attacks the basket head-down, missing open shooters as he did in New York last season. That monomaniacal style of play could inhibit the young trio of Towns, Wiggins, and LaVine rising in Minnesota.

If there’s any place for Rose to return to MVP form, it would be under the coach that helped him get there. But given Minnesota’s salary cap and roster makeup, it’s hard to envision this reunion as successful.