Unhappy with Gobert’s cost? Minnesota Timberwolves got a discount
By Bret Stuter
Why take the risk?
The Minnesota Timberwolves were not going to grow into an NBA Championship Team. Windows in the NBA open slowly and close quickly. The success of the 2021-22 season is just the start of the Minnesota Timberwolves’ success, but keeping the same players in the same roles for the 2022-23 season guarantees nothing. Other teams are reworking their rosters. Other teams are getting better or surrendering to rebuilding for a future playoff run.
If the Timberwolves stick with the status quo, they stick in NBA limbo. They will win enough games to flirt with the NBA Playoffs, will never land a lottery pick in the NBA Draft, and ultimately will be left without money as the NBA stars who hung around to see if the Timberwolves could win something will eventually leave.
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What are you waiting for?
As Nate Ackert pointed out just days ago, what are the Timberwolves waiting for?
The Minnesota Timberwolves entire organization discussed what the team needed to do. The Timberwolves’ off-season plans are not the result of some power-drunk NBA President going rogue. We outlined the likely five steps for an off-season that would be ideal for the Minnesota Timberwolves going forward.
While the trade for Rudy Gobert may be a bit of overkill based on what the plan may have been, veteran NBA executives know that regrets are far more likely over chances not explored than regretting past actions done. And so the Timberwolves had the opportunity to trade for Rudy Gobert and realize their master plan, or walk away and hope that some window of opportunity might open again.
They made the trade.