MINNEAPOLIS -- When Derrick Rose walked into the Minnesota Timberwolves' locker room Wednesday night after an improbable 50-point showing, his teammates doused him with bottles of water in celebratory fashion. For a few moments, the club had escaped -- or at least forgotten about -- the awkward cloud that's hung over the team for more than a month now.
But at some point, perhaps as soon as Friday night when they visit the Golden State Warriors at Oracle Arena, reality figures to set in again. The franchise still has to address the Jimmy Butler situation.