There was a point last season where everyone thought Derrick Rose's NBA career was over. After the former league MVP was traded by the Cleveland Cavaliers to the Utah Jazz at the 2018 February trade deadline, the Jazz promptly waived him. A viral video even surfaced of Rose shooting in an empty gym in Cleveland. It was a sad sight to see considering how good Rose was before he suffered his four knee injuries.
With no team even rumored to be interested in signing him, it looked like we had seen the last of the former No. 1 overall.
Then, out of nowhere, Rose's former coach with the Chicago Bulls swooped in and saved the day. Tom Thibodeau, the Minnesota Timberwolves head coach and president, signed Rose for the rest of the season. It was a move that Timberwolves fans didn't like at all.
Most in Minnesota thought Rose had nothing to offer the Timberwolves. Then, he only played in nine regular season games with the team and averaged just 5.8 points in about 12 minutes per game.
Rose’s role, however, changed during the 2018 playoffs, and that's where his resurgence ultimately began. The Timberwolves lost in the first round to the Houston Rockets in just five games, but Rose was a bright spot. He averaged 14.2 points per game while shooting 50.9 percent from the field and a staggering 70 percent from beyond the arc.
Even though he played well in the five-game sample size, teams around the league were still skeptical. Rose re-signed with the Timberwolves on the first day of free agency for the veteran minimum, because it was doubtful he would have received offers from many other teams on the open market.
Basketball is all about fit and opportunity, and with Thibodeau as the man in charge in Minnesota, Rose had both of those things with the Timberwolves.
This year, Rose is having the best statistical season of his career since the 2011-12 campaign. Entering Monday, Rose is averaging 18.9 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 4.8 assists while shooting 48.6 percent from the field, a career-best 46.2 percent from three-point range, and 83.8 percent from the free-throw line.
On Halloween against the Jazz, Rose erupted for a career-high 50 points. Thibodeau was letting Rose play the way he did in Chicago, free and at a fast pace. As a result, the point guard has looked liked his old self again this season. He's scored at least 20 points in 16 games, and over 30 points on three occasions. It's a story which has captivated the NBA.
Rose has the second-highest usage rate on the Timberwolves this season, and that's because Thibodeau trusts him. In turn, he is playing like an All-Star once again. Rose is currently second behind Golden State Warriors superstar Stephen Curry in All-Star voting for guards from the Western Conference.
But things could potentially take a drastic turn for Rose after what transpired on Sunday evening. The Timberwolves fired Thibodeau on Sunday following their win over the Los Angeles Lakers. It was a stunning move, considering their 22-point margin of victory. Wolves owner Glen Taylor indicated that he wasn't happy with how the season was going and felt a change needed to be made.
Minnesota's interim head coach will be Ryan Saunders, who is the son of the late Flip Saunders, a former Timberwolves head coach. The players on the team reportedly really like Saunders and feel he will do well with the team. And Rose told reporters on Monday that Saunders wants the team to play at a fast pace, which is a style of play that figures to suit him well.
Rose said on Monday that he has interest in re-signing with Minnesota in the offseason, even though Thibodeau is gone. The 30-year-old says he's very appreciative of how everyone in the organization has treated him and welcomed him with open arms since day one.
But with the fans clamoring for Tyus Jones and Josh Okogie to get more minutes, what is Rose's role on the team going to be moving forward? Thibodeau was the only guy in the entire NBA who took a chance on Rose last season and believed in him. Will that trust in Rose still exist on the Wolves' coaching staff now that Thibs is gone? Only time will tell.
Rose has missed the last five games due to an ankle injury. The Timberwolves have gone 3-2 during that stretch, with Jones and Okogie getting extended playing time. Starting point guard Jeff Teague is also back from his ankle ailment, and he has looked rejuvenated in the two games he has played in. Rose is clearly a better player than Jones and Okogie, but Saunders might be trying to appease the fans and ownership by playing the younger guys more minutes.
Friday night is where we are going to see what Rose's role on this team is going to be going forward, as he is expected to return to the lineup. Under Thibodeau, Rose was the first player off the bench. We'll see if that is still the case.
Follow Us
Subscribe