4 peeved Minnesota Timberwolves back with something to prove
By Bret Stuter
III: Rudy Gobert
The truth of the controversy of All-Star center Rudy Gobert’s role with the Minnesota Timberwolves is not that he is not fit for the team, but whether or not he is a fit for this team. After all, this Timberwolves roster was in a state of flux all season long. There was simply too small of a sample size to know the answer to that critical question.
And yet, that does not even give pause to the Timberwolves critics, who have offered nothing positive since Rudy Gobert had a physical altercation with teammate F Kyle Anderson. The criticism has taken every form imaginable – from overreacting to a trade that is not even a year on the books as ‘one of the worst trades in NBA history,’ to trade scenarios that offer key players at a value of pennies on the dollar, it’s gotten way out of hand.
From the moment that the Minnesota Timberwolves traded so much for Rudy Gobeter, the reaction of even casual fans was predictable: “Is he worth that much?” Even worse, it gave anyone and every one the catalyst to prove that he isn’t. But what was the goal of trading for Gobert in the first place?
The Timberwolves wanted to be more competitive in the NBA Playoffs, and the fight that the Timberwolves put up against the Denver Nuggets is aging very well so far. Keep in mind that the Timberwolves faced the Nuggets without SF Jaden McDaniels or backup C Naz Reid, and still won a game against the Nuggets.