The Minnesota Timberwolves appeared to be set for the 2022-23 season, with a full roster at 15, two players on two-way contracts, and the sense that it was all over but the shouting. Suddenly there is shouting, as Minnesota Timberwolves fans will have the TWolves version of the Twin Towers.
The Timberwolves have been earnestly seeking a rim-protecting NBA center to pair up with Karl Anthony Towns, and we’ve run the gamut on potential big men who might fill the team’s needs. You can probably guess that the Timberwolves did not sign any veteran free-agent center. Instead, the team went after one of the biggest and best NBA Bigs in the league.
Timberwolves Rudy Gobert
The Minnesota Timberwolves traded for Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert. And they traded a king’s ransom for him.
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
You can attribute this trade to Dell Demps:
I know I’m on record saying it’s hard to see Gobert actually landing here. But the #Timberwolves interest in pairing him with KAT continues to be very real. Former Utah ass’t Dell Demps now in Wolves front office has the book on him. https://t.co/XMFZyyWOEN
— Darren Wolfson (@DWolfsonKSTP) July 1, 2022
So what are the Timberwolves giving up? Well, we know the players. What about the picks? A king’s ransom, that’s what:
The picks going to Utah, per sources: unprotected 1sts in 23, 25, 27, a swap in ‘26 and a top 5 protected in ‘29
— Jon Krawczynski (@JonKrawczynski) July 1, 2022
Here’s how it all breaks down:
EDITOR’s NOTE: Leandro Bolmaro is now reported to be included in the players sent to the Utah Jazz. That makes five players.
When you need to drive one side of a two-team trade through a three-team format to capture all of the pieces, you know that one team is making out like a bandit.
We’ll be analyzing all of the pieces as quickly as we can. Right now, the Timberwolves appear to have emptied the vault by acquiring Rudy Gobert. Is he that good? We’ll know soon enough.
This sets the Timberwolves’ core players to be Rudy Gobert, Karl-Anthony Towns, Jaden McDaniels, Anthony Edwards, and D’Angelo Russell. It may be a costly starting five, but they certainly look unbeatable on paper.