It's remarkable another team was willing to make a trade like this given how poorly the past few seem to be working out. ![]() Minnesota instead gave up the maximum four tradeable first-round picks in the next seven years, the first three (2023, 20) entirely unprotected with top-five protection on the 2029 pick. When I first saw Wojnarowski report multiple first-round picks were headed Utah's direction, I figured two or maybe three. Make no mistake, despite the Timberwolves' playoff history, a deep run is the bar for how much they gave up in this trade. Still, I think at some point in the playoffs, Minnesota will run into an opponent ideally suited to cause problems for the Gobert-Towns frontcourt. I'm guessing the Timberwolves are hoping that Towns' own post-up game prevents opponents from taking their traditional centers off the court the way they have against Gobert. There are only so many minutes available for that when Minnesota has invested in Gobert playing center. Towns' versatility should allow the Timberwolves to use him like the valuable combo bigs I discussed in a piece earlier this week who play power forward during the regular season and center during the playoffs. (That would be Minnesota's highest seed since 2004, the only time in franchise history the Timberwolves have won a playoff series.)Īlthough the concept of Gobert being "played off the floor" in the postseason is undoubtedly overstated, other teams going small and pulling him out of the paint has undoubtedly muted his impact. ![]() As deep as the Western Conference looks with the Denver Nuggets, LA Clippers and Portland Trail Blazers all getting healthy, I'd give the Timberwolves better than even odds of finishing in the top six of the standings and avoiding the play-in tournament. (Vanderbilt's average shot distance was 3.1 feet last season, per data, barely more than Gobert's 2.7.)Īll that adds up to a Minnesota team that should be stronger in the regular season. While Gobert's presence in the paint might cramp things a bit when Towns posts up, it's similar to the pairing of Towns and non-shooter Vanderbilt last season. As the self-proclaimed greatest big man shooter of all time, Towns can keep his defender at home when Gobert screens for Timberwolves guards Anthony Edwards and D'Angelo Russell in the pick-and-roll. Offensively, Towns has more than enough skill to make playing power forward next to Gobert work. Where the Jazz relied on Gobert to cover up for a below-average set of perimeter defenders, he'll be working with somewhat more talent in Minnesota. It probably still wasn't good enough for Minnesota to realistically advance deep into the playoffs.ĭespite the fact that Utah finished just three spots higher in defensive rating, adding Gobert should be transformational for the Timberwolves' defense during the regular season. Last year's Timberwolves defense, which ranked 13th in points allowed per 100 possessions during the regular season, seems close to the peak for one built around Towns at center. Once we get to the playoffs, though, is another story. In theory, I'm intrigued by the idea of Minnesota moving Towns to power forward during the regular season. Grading the biggest trades during free agency Let's break down the massive stakes for Friday's blockbuster deal. How well might the supersized pairing of Gobert and Towns work during both the regular season and the playoffs? And what's next for the Jazz after they made the decision to trade their anchor during a run of six consecutive playoff trips? ![]() Either Gobert or Towns - though not both - has made an All-NBA team every season since 2016-17, with Gobert accounting for four of those selections and Towns contributing two. That starts with the idea of pairing two of the four centers to receive All-NBA votes last season. Say this for Tim Connelly's first big move since leaving the Denver Nuggets to become president of the Timberwolves: It's one of the biggest swings we've seen in recent NBA history. In a shocking move reported Friday by ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, Gobert is going from the Utah Jazz to Minnesota in exchange for four players, the rights to first-round pick Walker Kessler and an incredible four first-round picks. Rudy Gobert trade grades: What the blockbuster deal means for the Minnesota Timberwolves and Utah Jazzĭoes pairing Rudy Gobert with fellow All-Star Karl-Anthony Towns make sense for the Minnesota Timberwolves? You have reached a degraded version of because you're using an unsupported version of Internet Explorer.įor a complete experience, please upgrade or use a supported browser
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