Putting money in a traditional IRA while you are low income enables you to likely qualify for the "Savers Tax Credit." That is free money and you don't want to pass up on that.
I would do this. Next year (assuming your financial situation has not improved) you can start a Roth Pipeline, moving your 2017 contributions from tIRA into a Roth. You'll qualify for the Savers Tax Credit, pay little/no tax on your pipeline and you'll never pay tax on your Roth.
Saver's Credit applies to ROTH contributions. There is absolutely no reason to do somersaults through a traditional IRA in this situation.
The order is this:
1. 401(k) only up to employer's match (if there even is one). Do ROTH 401(k) contributions if available.
2. ROTH IRA until maxed.
3. ROTH 401(k) if available or taxable. If your income rises, then consider traditional 401(k).
Saver's Credit is available on ALL retirement contributions - 401(k), ROTH, traditional, and the whole host of other plans (403(b), 457, SEP, etc).
A note on ROTH IRA vs ROTH 401(k) - if you open your own fee-free ROTH at Vanguard or Fidelity or somewhere and invest in super low cost index funds then you are probably better off than going with whatever your employer offers in a ROTH 401(k) - but if your employer offers great 401(k) options and the option to do ROTH contributions, then there's really no preference. If your friend who works at Edward Jones is who you'd open the ROTH IRA with, then stick with your employer's ROTH 401(k) if available.