Rudy Gobert has been a nice addition to the Minnesota Timberwolves since coming over in a blockbuster trade from the Utah Jazz. But since he arrived in the summer of 2022, there seems to be a missing component to his game.
Gobert’s defense was the top reason the Wolves made the trade, and he’s delivered, winning the Defensive Player of the Year Award during the 2023-24 season and being a menacing presence in the paint. But Gobert’s offensive game has been muted, as he’s struggled to coexist alongside Karl-Anthony Towns and Julius Randle.
Towns has moved on to golden pastures with the New York Knicks, but the Timberwolves tried to make Randle and Gobert work for each of the past two seasons.
After trading Randle to the Brooklyn Nets, a jump in Gobert’s offensive game is another aspect that could make Randle’s departure addition by subtraction next season. This possibility is all the more likely with LaMelo Ball in the fold.
The Timberwolves could finally get more out of Rudy Gobert offensively
There are many positives that come with Randle’s departure, including an increased role for Jaden McDaniels and cleaning up the vibes in the Timberwolves’ locker room. But improving Gobert’s offensive abilities would be another that few fans see coming.
Gobert was solid offensively last season, leading the NBA in overall (68.2 percent) and effective (68.2 percent) field goal percentage. But he also had one of the lowest offensive outputs of his career, with his 10.9 points per game and his 6.5 field goal attempts per game being the lowest marks of his career since the 2015-16 season.
Looking back at Gobert’s final three years with the Jazz, it’s been an even bigger decline. From 2019-22, Gobert averaged 15.2 points per game while also grabbing 13.6 rebounds and blocking 2.3 shots. But those numbers have dropped to 12.6 points per game, 11.7 rebounds and 1.6 blocks since coming to Minnesota.
The Wolves will take those rebounding and defensive numbers, but the offensive decline was the result of poor spacing. Towns was able to solve some of those concerns with his 3-point shooting ability, and Gobert responded with 14.0 points per game. While Randle also could shoot from long-range, he was more willing to pound the rock inside, which took Gobert out of the Wolves’ offense at times.
Getting rid of Randle blew a hole in the Wolves’ lineup, but it also cleared the salary space needed to bring in Ball as part of the final four-team trade. Ball’s game has some drawbacks, but the Wolves’ plan to use him as a facilitator could unlock Gobert in the same way that Mike Conley did during those final years in Utah.
While Conley averaged 5.3 assists during Gobert’s best three-year stretch, Ball is an even better passer. This not only could allow Gobert to be open for lobs in the paint, but also give him more room in general if the Wolves follow through on their plan for a non-traditional power forward as opposed to Randle’s paint-heavy game.
If Gobert takes a step offensively, that could be a big boost for the Wolves going into next year. It will also further validate their decision to trade Randle and perhaps help Minnesota get over the hump.
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