Derrick Rose wants to be a Knick but voice from the past is calling

B.J. Armstrong, the agent for Derrick Rose, isn’t surprised the Timberwolves, with Tom Thibodeau their president and head coach, have emerged again as potential suitors for his client. But he hopes at least to meet with the Knicks before the free-agency period begins July 1.

“If it was up to Tom, he’d reunite with all his former Bulls players,’’ one NBA general manager told The Post.

Thibodeau, the Bulls coach from 2010-15, already reunited with Jimmy Butler on draft night, trading Minnesota’s lottery pick for the Chicago star.

The Knicks, who drafted their point guard of the future, 18-year-old Frank Ntilikina, still can keep Rose off the free-agent market with a contract extension in the next week. Knicks president Phil Jackson, after the draft, said, “We’re listening,’’ when asked about Rose’s future, presumably meaning all options are open.

Armstrong told The Post no extension talks have taken place, but said he hopes a meeting prior to July 1 will clarify things. Rose, who never has been a free agent, is in Los Angeles, cleared for running and contact after knee surgery — his fourth — in April for a torn meniscus.

“[The Knicks] just got done with the draft,’’ Armstrong said. “As the focus shifts to free agency, we’ll get down to talking, visiting with them in the next week or so and get ready for the next phase. They got a really good player in the draft.

“It’s a matter of wanting to hear from them and their vision of what the team is trying to do. We stated our intention … once we got traded there, we want to be in New York. At the same time, we have to see what it is and go from there. Let’s listen and gather information.’’

Certainly Rose would listen to Thibodeau, who was his head coach for six seasons and who nearly traded for him at February’s deadline.

“There’s a lot of rumors and especially because of their shared history and Derrick won MVP with him,’’ Armstrong said. “He’s aware of his offensive and defensive systems, so there’s definitely history there. It’s expected, comes with the territory. They both have an understanding for each other — both basketball people who are consumed by it. They know each other. But Tom’s in Minnesota. We’ve finished up in New York and we’ll see what happens. I’ve been around long enough to know anything is possible.”

According to an NBA source, Thibodeau feverishly sought a deal for Rose for a solid month leading up to the deadline before pulling out at the end. It left Jackson at the altar in his pursuit of point guard Ricky Rubio, who remains under contract with Minnesota.

While the Knicks tried to gain another asset for a Rubio swap at the trade deadline, sources say they would have done the deal regardless before the Timberwolves got cold feet.

Sources told The Post that Thibodeau’s lieutenants convinced him not to make the trade because of the risk of Rose being just a rental. Rubio went on to have a magnificent finish and Minnesota GM Scott Layden indicated Friday that Rubio will not be dealt.

“I think he’s just going to grow on that second half and just keep going and just have a great career here,” Layden told KFXN Radio.

According to league executives, because of his latest surgery, Rose’s market value likely dropped to the $10 million-$12 million range — above the new full mid-level exception of $8.5 million. The Timberwolves could have as much as $18 million in cap room, but Thibodeau wants to use it on at least two free agents.

The Spurs also are said to have interest in Rose — who averaged 18.0 points and 4.4 assists, shooting 47 percent in 64 games this past season. The Knicks won’t have cap space unless they renounce Rose, who has a $30 million cap hold, according to The Vertical’s cap master, Bobby Marks.

If they renounce both Rose and Sasha Vujacic, the Knicks would have nearly $16 million of cap space to sign another point guard, such as Golden State’s Shaun Livingston as a two-year placeholder for Ntilikina. However, keeping Rose’s cap hold in place would allow the Knicks to creatively re-sign him and go over the cap.

Though Jeff Teague and Jrue Holiday should prove too rich for the Knicks’ blood, a cheaper, triangle-savvy option is available — former Knicks Langston Galloway, a favorite of the team’s top adviser, Clarence Gaines Jr.

Rose impressed Jackson in the exit interview, telling him he wants to remain a Knick and to be a better leader next season. He admitted missing most of training camp affected his bonding with new teammates. Rose was gone from camp for 16 days due to a sexual assault civil lawsuit in which he was cleared.

“Last year, not being able to participate in training camp, that’s the big part of building team chemistry,’’ Armstrong said. “Derrick knows that is very important. There were a lot of moving parts with new coach, new players new system but he had a situation he had to take care of. He understands what it takes to win in this league and shoulder that responsibility.”

Armstrong admitted winning now is an issue, but said Rose thinks the Knicks will.

“The big thing is he wants to take that responsibility of winning,’’ said Armstrong, who played for Jackson when the Zen Master coached the Bulls. “That means one of the best players wants to take that responsibility in leadership. He’s never going to run away from a challenge and there’s no shortage of talent here.’’