All of the rumors and offseason buffering was fun, but nobody believed it would actually happen. Then on Friday afternoon, it did. When Rudy Gobert was traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves.
To get the deal done, the Wolves sent Malik Beasley, Patrick Beverley, (1st rnd pick) Walker Kessler, Jarred Vanderbilt, Leandro Balmero and FOUR future 1st round draft picks (’23, ’25, ’27, ’29) back to Utah. All of those picks, other than 2029, is unprotected. Even in 2029, the protection is only top-5. Expectations for the 2022 Timberwolves just went through the roof.
Utah is trading Rudy Gobert to Minnesota, sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 1, 2022
The Timberwolves are sending Malik Beasley, Patrick Beverley, Walker Kessler, Jarred Vanderbilt and multiple first-round picks for Gobert, sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 1, 2022
Minnesota is sending its 2023, 2025 and 2027 picks unprotected and a top-5 protected 2029 pick to Utah, sources tell ESPN. https://t.co/fz3wxKJT0D
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 1, 2022
The Wolves just gave up a bunch of role players and FIVE 1st round picks to bring this Rudy Gobert deal to fruition. One would think you could have gotten just about anybody in the league for that price. What’s also clear with this move, is that the Minnesota Timberwolves organization is zigging, while the rest of the league is zagging.
Wolves Zigs, While Others Zag
With this move, Minnesota has chosen to go BIG while much of the NBA is going small. Another question that immediately comes to mind, is whether or not new owners Alex Rodriguez and Marc Lore had any sway on this blockbuster. They’ve been begging the Wolves’ front office to make a splash for over a year.
Reminder, Chris Finch spoke with media the other day and mentioned three players, Jaden McDaniels, Jalen Nowell and (more obviously) Anthony Edwards, who he felt were very important to the future of the Timberwolves. We knew Ant wasn’t going to be dealt, but neither of the other two were included in this trade either.
Eric Strack | Minnesota Sports Fan