For most of the season, Minnesota Timberwolves fans were ready to ship out Julius Randle this offseason. And while plenty within the fan base still hold this stance, Rudy Gobert's poor offense is also starting to have fans speculating about his future.
From the outside looking in, it feels likely that the Wolves will trade at least one member of their frontcourt this offseason. This is due to the three main frontcourt players (Randle, Gobert, and Naz Reid) not fitting together, the need to open up cap space, and creating minutes for 19-year-old big man Joan Beringer.
We don't know what Tim Connelly and the front office are thinking. Nevertheless, if Gobert's offense forces him to be played off the court in the playoffs, it's easy to see a world where the Wolves trade him. In turn, this could save Randle from being traded.
Rudy Gobert's offensive limitations could make trading him logical
Frankly, Gobert's offense has never and will never be his strong suit. However, as the playoffs approach, his production specifically against good teams has been concerning. Shooting a combined 4-of-11 against the Detroit Pistons and Philadelphia 76ers last week is alarming.
In the past seven games, he has averaged 10.6 points on 58.2 percent shooting (nearly 10 percent lower than his season average) while committing more turnovers than assists. These numbers might not be that concerning on the surface level. Regardless, it's clear that due to his poor hands and awkward movement, his teammates have a hard time trusting him.
Needless to say, this could be a massive problem in the playoffs, especially given his history of poor offensive performances in the postseason.
Despite his offensive limitations, trading Rudy would be a tough call. He remains one of the most dominant defensive anchors in the league, and the Wolves' defense has an abysmal 120 defensive rating without him per Cleaning the Glass. As such, a possible Gobert trade would force the Wolves to go all in on their offensive identity.
The good news is that the offense would likely be really good, with Gobert off the court, Minnesota has a 121.3 offensive rating. But would the Wolves be able to field a championship-level defense without Rudy?
If the Wolves decide that Gobert's offense limits their overall ceiling, though, trading him might be inevitable.
The Wolves may have to choose between Gobert and Randle
There's a world where the Wolves opt to trade both Gobert and Randle in an effort to fully get on Anthony Edwards' timeline. Nevertheless, I have a hard time believing that their value is sky high around the league. Thus, the Wolves might pick between the two talented yet flawed big men.
The question that the Wolves would have to ask themselves when considering trading these players is a bit different. As noted, it's worth wondering how you can yield a competent defense without Gobert and if winning with his offensive skill set is untenable. While Randle is inconsistent, it's worth wondering if they can find a more dependable second option by trading him -- this is why I have been less eager about trading him.
Minnesota will undoubtedly pursue Giannis Antetokounmpo in the offseason, as they did at the trade deadline. To pull off such a move, though, the Wolves would need to get a third team involved, as their lack of draft picks will hamper them. This all leads me to believe that a lesser trade involving one of Randle or Gobert is the most likely outcome.
If you can't find a dependable second option in exchange for Randle or pull off a Giannis trade, simply trading Gobert feels like the more logical move, especially with Beringer waiting for a bigger role. Still, it's unclear what level of player you can get for Gobert, particularly if you are also hoping to save cap.