Based on what the Minnesota Timberwolves have done this summer, it would appear they're making preparations for the post-Rudy Gobert era. I don't believe they're making an active effort to get rid of him, but if there's going to be an odd man out on this current roster, I think Rudy's the guy.
We sort of knew that a hard decision was going to have to be made regarding the team's big men at some point or another. I mean, we already saw one move made in that category less than a year ago when Minnesota dealt away Karl-Anthony Towns to the New York Knicks. But even beyond that, there were always going to have to be more money-saving moves made.
This was and is one of the most expensive teams in the league. Even after getting off KAT's contract, the Wolves still had some more tough decisions to make in deciding to deal Julius Randle, Naz Reid, or Nickeil Alexander-Walker. One was going to have to go, and of course it ended up being NAW.
After the Western Conference Finals ended a few months ago, Timberwolves fans were anxiously awaiting the next offseason move. Who would be re-signed? Whoever's name flashed across the screen attached to a post by Shams Charania was not going to likely be a trade candidate.
Minnesota knows Gobert is getting older
So with that being the case, we learned that Minnesota really values Naz Reid and Julius Randle in their long term plans. Both got contract extensions this summer, which is likely to indicate Gobert becoming movable sometime in the near future.
If that weren't already obviously the case, it should have become even more evident when the Timberwolves also drafted two more big guys in Joan Beringer and Rocco Zikarsky. The front office is clearly hoping one of those two pans out as a starting center option later down the line.
So does this mean Minnesota has grown tired of Gobert and don't think they can win with him? Far from it. They obviously still think their title window is open with him as their starter, or they would've traded him. But they do likely see the writing on the wall that he's getting just a bit older and won't be playing at a high level for forever.
Even if he never plays another game in a Timberwolves uniform, Rudy Gobert's legacy in a Timberwolves uniform is stamped. He was one of the main catalysts in getting this team to the level of a perpetual contender, and the fanbase should always remember him fondly long after he's gone.