What's next for Derrick Rose? Uncertain future focuses spotlight on debatable Hall of Fame status once again

For years, Derrick Rose's potential Hall of Fame enshrinement has been a barbershop debate. That discussion will continue now that the Memphis Grizzlies have waived the former MVP upon his request. The 35-year-old will look for a new franchise to offer his services, and while his future in the NBA is a debate for another day, the focus is once again on a heralded star whose Hall of Famer status appears questionable.

Rose was expected to be a key part of the rotation for the Grizzlies in the 2023-24 edition. Their All-Star guard Ja Morant was serving a 25-game suspension. Nine games upon his return, a shoulder injury ended his season. The absence was supposed to open the door for Rose, but there was nothing rosy about the once-electric guard's run as knee and hamstring injuries limited his time on the floor. He averaged 8.0 points, 1.9 rebounds and 3.3 assists in 16.6 minutes in 24 appearances as the injury-plagued Grizzlies failed to make the playoffs.

At the time of writing, there is no concrete news on his future in the league. While retirement is an option — one that would draw curtains down on a storied career, there's also a possibility that Derrick Rose can be a role player and a veteran leader in a team that could use his experience.

Before inking a two-year, $6.5 million contract with the Grizzlies, Rose still had teams looking to sign him, and there's every chance he will be lapped up by at least two to three teams looking to take him on. The likes of his former teams, the Minnesota Timberwolves, New York Knicks, or a fresh move to an Eastern side in the Milwaukee Bucks, or even the Philadelphia 76ers — all teams regarded as legitimate championship contenders where he can be second/third string PG could be an ideal way to finish his career.

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Does Derrick Rose, even if he isn't the Derrick Rose of the old deserve to be in the Hall of Fame?

When he burst onto the scene as one of Chicago's finest and a player destined to be one of the greatest point guards ever, it was common knowledge that Derrick Rose would one day take the Chicago Bulls back to their glory days with a title or two, and be a Hall of Famer. None of that has happened, although he still holds the distinction of being the league's youngest MVP at 22.

Undoubtedly, Rose's promising run in the NBA was marred by injuries. In his prime, he was one of the most explosive, athletic guards. He was an absolute freight train who could score at will on some of the best defenders in the league.

At 6'3", he was a player whose ascent hit turbulence making him a classic case of who he could have been. Should Derrick Rose tweet out a retirement message, he will go down as the "iconic Derrick Rose" — a 1x MVP, 3x NBA All-Star, the NBA Rookie of the Year, and 2x FIBA World Cup gold medalist when donning the national kit to highlight his list of achievements.

His career stocks rose in his third NBA season where he averaged more than 25 points per contest to take home the MVP. He followed it up with another 20+ point season to lead the Bulls to the postseason with the second-best record in the league. He went Super Saiyan in the playoffs when the Bulls made the postseason by averaging 26.8 in the 2010 playoffs against LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers, and notched it to 27.1 points per game in the 2011 edition.

His stellar run was cut short by a knee injury, and he went under the knife several more times later. But he showed what he was capable of if healthy when he suited up for the New York Knicks, the Cavaliers, Minnesota Timberwolves, and then again back with the Knicks.

They may not have been performances that catapulted him back to MVP contention, but were game-winning efforts that all but showed Rose was still a force when he laced up.

There have been players in the league who went on from being bonafide superstars to reliable and exceptional role players, and Derrick Rose could be one of them. He has the numbers: 723 games, 17.4 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 5.2 assists, and a member of the 50-point club to show he can be the floor general when in the hardwood, and an astute mentor to the new-gen hoopers off of it.

It's worth noting that college records before foraying into the NBA play a role in determining whether a player can make the Hall of Fame cut. Rose was a star for Simeon High School, winning consecutive championships. He did the same thing with the Memphis Tigers soon after, leading the outfit to the No. 1 ranking in the country for the first time in two-and-a-half decades.

From a resume perspective, he has everything except for a title to show for. Maybe that changes this season if he decides to be part of a team that's pegged to win a title, and also use his services as a seasoned veteran. But for now, it's a wait to see what Derrick Rose's next move is.