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5 free agents the Timberwolves should avoid

By Cyril Girgis

Mar 8, 2017; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Los Angeles Clippers forward Blake Griffin (32) reacts to missing a basket in the fourth quarter against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Target Center. The Minnesota Timberwolves beat the Los Angeles Clippers 107-91. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 8, 2017; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Los Angeles Clippers forward Blake Griffin (32) reacts to missing a basket in the fourth quarter against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Target Center. The Minnesota Timberwolves beat the Los Angeles Clippers 107-91. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 27, 2017; New York, NY, USA; New York Knicks guard Derrick Rose (25) drives to the basket against the Detroit Pistons during the second half at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 27, 2017; New York, NY, USA; New York Knicks guard Derrick Rose (25) drives to the basket against the Detroit Pistons during the second half at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports /

Derrick Rose

The Rose-Thibodeau reunion seems like a good idea at first: neither one of them has been able to reach higher heights of success then when they were together, and their run in Chicago includes a coach of the year award for Thibodeau and an MVP award for Rose.

However, that was a long time ago and their respective situations are different now. Rose is no longer the phenomenal player he used to be. With knee injuries becoming a nearly yearly injury, it’s hard to believe that’s ever going to change.

Some people might look at his work in New York and feel like he’s still pretty good. However, if you look past his raw points per game, his play looks uninspiring at best.

Rose’s scoring comes mostly from inside the arc as he shoots a poor 22 percent from three-oint range. His inside scoring doesn’t make up for the lack of shooting as he only attempted four free throws per game last season. Additionally, he’s proven to have tunnel vision, averaging only four assists per game in New York.

His poor play making chops has really hindered the development of Kristaps Porzingis. That should serve as a cautionary tale for the Timberwolves, who need their young core to keep learning. Add in his poor defense and you essentially get a player who answers none of the Timberwolves problems.

This would also likely mean the departure of Ricky Rubio, who by all means is a better fit and a better player then Rose at this point in their respective careers. Best-case scenario, Rose serves as his backup. Even then, he would be hurting Dunn’s development by cutting away at his minutes, a player who the Timberwolves should not give up on.

One can’t forget to mention that he has suffered yet another knee injury. While it’s not his fault, this makes him very unreliable for the most part. We also can’t predict if he’s going to be even worse after fully recovering.

Thibodeau should not let nostalgia lead him into making this bad signing. The reunion might seem attractive but he needs to see Rose for what he has objectively become: an injury-prone scoring-guard who can’t shoot or defend.

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