Free agent guard Derrick Rose is signing a rest-of-season contract with the Minnesota Timberwolves, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
Free agent guard Derrick Rose is signing with Minnesota for the rest of the season, league sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) March 8, 2018
Rose will reunite with former coach Tom Thibodeau, who coached Rose for five seasons with the Chicago Bulls. Rose thrived while playing under Thibodeau, winning the Most Valuable Player award in 2011 in addition to several memorable Playoff runs. He will also reunite with former teammates Jimmy Butler and Taj Gibson.
Rose received multiple 10-day contract offers in the days following his release from the Jazz. Cleveland traded him to Utah at the February 8 trading deadline after originally signing him in the offseason.
The Timberwolves recently lost All-Star Jimmy Butler after he sustained a torn meniscus and ramped up their search for offensive production. Once an athletic, unstoppable force on the offensive end, Rose has since undergone numerous knee surgeries and lost much of his athleticism.
During his time with Cleveland, Rose showed brief flashes of brilliance but mostly struggled while on the court. The Cavaliers were a better team statistically with Rose on the bench. Rose held per-game averages of 9.8 points, 1.6 assists and 19.3 minutes in 16 contests with Cleveland.
The Timberwolves, at 38-28, are vying for playoff position in a crowded Western Conference with 10 teams capable of making the postseason.
