Utah Jazz: Why it makes sense to part with newly acquired Derrick Rose
After being traded from the Cleveland Cavaliers to the Utah Jazz prior to Thursday’s NBA trade deadline, Derrick Rose will be back on the market soon. Let’s take a look as to why it makes sense for Utah to release Rose.
During the Cleveland Cavaliers‘ mission to basically retool their entire roster prior to the clock running out on Thursday’s 2018 NBA Trade Deadline, the Utah Jazz were quietly in the middle of all the deadline madness.
The big move of the day for the Jazz came in a three-team trade with the Cavaliers and the Sacramento Kings. That deal ultimately sent Utah wings Rodney Hood and Joe Johnson out of Salt Lake City.
Here’s a full recap of the three-team trade:
- Cavaliers receive: Rodney Hood, George Hill
- Jazz receive: Jae Crowder, Derrick Rose
- Kings receive: Joe Johnson, Iman Shumpert, 2020 second round pick (via Heat), cash
For the Jazz, they sent away two solid second unit pieces in Hood and Johnson, who are two players that were likely going to walk following this season.
In return, Utah received forward Jae Crowder and point guard Derrick Rose from Cleveland, two players who could fill in some voids that the current Jazz roster contains.
When it comes to Crowder, a 27-year-old, he is under contract through the 2019-20 season, set to make around $7 million a year. Rose, a 29-year-old, is in the final year of his contract, making just over $2 million this season.
As far as Crowder goes, it’s obvious that he will be a piece that will stay in Utah. After the trade was officially announced, though, we learned the same wouldn’t be said for Rose.
Shortly after the deal went down sending Crowder and Rose to Salt Lake City, Yahoo! Sports‘ Shams Charania reported that the Jazz will be releasing Rose, sending the point guard back into the market.
Sources: Utah will release Derrick Rose, allowing him to pursue signing with a playoff team. https://t.co/a9RsM4kgTW
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 8, 2018
The release of Rose isn’t really that surprising. The point guard position in Utah isn’t necessarily thin by any means, with Ricky Rubio as the current starter and Raul Neto and Dante Exum — who has been out for the entire season thus far with a shoulder injury and might be returning soon — as the backups. You could even throw rookie Donovan Mitchell into that conversation with his recent spike in ball-handling duties.
The release of Rose makes sense for both the team and for Rose himself. It will allow Utah to shed a roster spot and some expiring money, as well as it gives Rose an opportunity to seek another team before the regular season concludes.
With Rose’s time in Utah being short lived, what’s next for the former league MVP?
Well, according to New York Times NBA reporter Marc Stein, one team that could be interested in Rose once he hits the market would be his former head coach Tom Thibodeau of the Minnesota Timberwolves.
The Timberwolves will try to sign Derrick Rose if he clears waivers after his looming release by Utah, according to league sources
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) February 8, 2018
Rose has the ability to still provide some value to any team in the NBA, currently averaging 9.8 points, 1.8 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 19.3 minutes per game this season. In 16 appearances, he is shooting 43.9 percent from the field and 25 percent from behind the arc.
In what was a busy Thursday trade deadline around the NBA, things were also busy in Utah, which in the end hauled in two players from the Cavaliers in Crowder and Rose.
Next: Biggest winners and losers of the 2018 NBA Trade Deadline
Crowder will join the Jazz as they move forward, but Rose will head back to the market and will look for the fifth team in his NBA career. Both moves make a lot of sense for Utah.