Nearly a month to the day after playing his final game with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Derrick Rose is making his return to basketball.
According to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, the former Cavs point guard-turned-free agent has agreed to a contract with the Minnesota Timberwolves for the remainder of the 2017-18 season.
Rose had signed a veteran's minimum contract with the Cavs last summer, but struggled with injuries throughout his time with the team. After beginning the season as Cleveland's starting point guard, the 2011 MVP went on to appear in just 16 games with the Cavs and averaged 9.8 points on .439 shooting to go along with 1.6 assists. In late-November, it was reported that he had taken time away from the team to contemplate his basketball future, before ultimately returning to action on Jan. 18.
At the NBA trade deadline last month, the Cavs traded Rose to the Utah Jazz in a three-team deal in which Cleveland acquired Rodney Hood in George Hill. The Jazz proceeded to waive Rose before he ever played in a game for them.
In Minnesota, Rose will be united with his former coach, Tom Thibodeau, who oversaw his best years as a pro with the Chicago Bulls. In three All-Star seasons from 2010-12, the Memphis product never averaged fewer than 20 points or 6 assists per game, before injuries ultimately derailed the career of what was one of basketball's brightest young stars.
