The Timberwolves are reportedly interested in pursuing Derrick Rose in free agency

Oooooh yeah, dig it! It’s free agency rumor time!

In maybe the most predictable rumor of this offseason, ESPN’s Ian Begley is reporting that the Minnesota Timberwolves are considering adding Derrick Rose this offseason as a free agent:

The Minnesota Timberwolves view Derrick Rose as a potential free-agent target this summer, league sources told ESPN.

Rose, 28, will be a free agent for the first time in his career after spending last season with the New York Knicks.

Rose of course played for Minnesota’s current head coach and president of basketball operations Tom Thibodeau from 2010 to 2015, and became the youngest MVP ever during the Bulls’ 62-win 2010-11 season under Thibs.

Admittedly, not a ton to go off of there from Mr. Bagels, but I’m considering this more or less the Olympic torch lighting of Knicks offseason rumors. There was also this little nugget:

It is unclear at this point which other outside teams besides the Timberwolves view Rose as a potential free-agent target. Some rival executives believe the San Antonio Spurs may have interest in Rose, depending on how the free-agent market for point guards develops.

San Antonio would be an interesting destination for Rose, since he has loose ties to Gregg Popovich from their 9-0 Team USA run at the 2014 FIBA World Championships, where Pop was an assistant and Rose the starting point guard.

The Knicks, of course, were publicly linked to the Timberwolves’ Ricky Rubio at the trade deadline in what apparently could have been a one-for-one swap of Rubio for Rose. Then the Knicks balked, or the Wolves balked, or the Knicks asked for Andrew Wiggins and Tom Thibodeau’s head exploded, or Phil was taking his afternoon nap right before the deadline, or something like that.

(In all reality, given this most recent rumor, the Wolves probably just decided at the deadline that they could land Rose in free agency without using his Bird rights to give him a bigger contract, and therefore decided to just ride it out and will look to trade Rubio for someone/something else this offseason.)

I’m sure there’s much more fun to come in the weeks ahead. Stay tuned!