“Man, I don’t care about… Not to be rude—I don’t care about no f——g money. It’s not about that. I’ve saved up enough money.” Derrick Rose’s response to a journalist’s question in 2017 showed how the green paper wasn’t always his priority. As a result, even though he’s been around for 15 seasons, the hooper was willing to play under a minimum contract of two years, $6.55 million with the Grizzlies. Having recently been waived off the Memphis-based franchise after his request, he has left without taking the obvious option in his way, providing the franchise some much-needed relief!

According to a recent update by NBA Insider, Keith Smith, Derrick Rose’s has given up his entire salary in the buyout deal from the Grizzlies. As a result, the Grizzlies now lie $5.9 million under the luxury tax line, preventing them from being in the same precarious position as several other franchises. They can now make some much-needed additions, after all, they’ve only made it to the playoffs thrice in seven years, out of which the first round has only been cleared once.

Bleacher Report’s Grant Hughes came out with a proposal, days before Rose was waived, stating, “Memphis Grizzlies acquire Brandon Ingram from the New Orleans Pelicans for Marcus Smart, Brandon Clarke, 2025 first-round pick, 2026 second-round pick.” Being a small forward who averaged 20.8 points alongside just above 5 rebounds and 5.7 assists in the recent season, Ingram can fill the offensive space left by Rose and complement the trio of Ja Morant, Desmond Bane, and Jaren Jackson Jr. well on the court.

However, there are some things that may not work well when pursuing a trade. For one, given how many key members of the Grizzlies suffered from injuries during the 2023-24 series, the need is for an athlete who can stay healthy throughout the year. Ingram missed 12 games last season because of a left knee contusion. On top of that, the last contract that he signed with the Pels was $158.25 million over 5 years (heading into the last year this coming season). Therefore, unless he is willing to pull a ‘Derrick Rose’ and play under a minimum contract, the Grizzlies can’t acquire him without going over the luxury tax limit.

Trading Marcus Smart, who is set to receive $20.2 million for the upcoming season, and Brandon Clarke, who will receive $12.5 million, would help. Days after he released his initial report, however, Greg Swartz highlighted that key players should not be traded away, stating “the Memphis Grizzlies need to keep this core as it is and practice patience for at least the first few months of the season.” Therefore, the Memphis side needs to think deeply about their next steps, and quickly.

Free from all the trade related tension, Derrick Rose is now free to look for a potential new home. While he had initially stated that he was considering retirement last summer, he changed his mind to state that he would continue with the Grizzlies. Therefore, it’s hard to predict. If there is one thing we know from the past, Rose certainly wouldn’t mind again returning under a minimum contract.

How much has Derrick Rose earned over his NBA career?

According to Hoopshype, Derrick Rose has accumulated over $167.73 million over his 15-year career. Adjusted for inflation, that amount has well reached to $209.8 million. Out of all this, and including the amount he has earned from his investments and endorsements, Rose currently possesses a net worth of $90 million. Therefore, while his upcoming pay of $3.36 million would only make him the 295th best-paid hooper for the upcoming season, his net worth is the 9th highest amongst all other active players!

Being the first pick in the 2008 NBA draft, the point guard was expected to walk away with the highest pay amongst other rookies. Sure enough, he was awarded a $22.5 million rookie contract, which was paid over four years. Being named to the All-NBA First Team set him up for a raise on his next deal, which was a five-year, $94.3 million extension.

The New York Knicks paid the amount for the final year after he was traded. Unfortunately, Rose never saw a contract of that size again, as he struggled with the lingering ACL issue. He started playing under minimum deals from 2017 onwards.

Despite this, his previous earnings have already given him a big boost, allowing him to flaunt a net worth bigger than 90% of modern NBA players. It remains to be seen just how well the Grizzlies will use the gift left by Derrick Rose’s exit. However, with just weeks remaining until the pre-season, time is of the essence.

Before you go, remember to check out this crossover between BG12 and Georgia Bulldogs star Silas Demary Jr.