It's fair to expect that the Minnesota Timberwolves will look to trade Julius Randle and Rudy Gobert this offseason. They need to get on Anthony Edwards' timeline and find some more consistent complementary stars alongside him. Reporting from Jake Fischer confirmed that the Wolves have questions about Gobert's long-term viability. And frankly, after Randle's awful series against the San Antonio Spurs, he can't be brought back.
Nevertheless, given that both players are aging and have proven that they don't match up well against the best teams in the West, some are speculating that the Wolves will have a challenging time getting real value for them. We ultimately won't know their value until a trade goes down (or if it doesn't, we can assume it's due to poor value).
One thing that might help the Wolves, though, is the NBA's new lottery odds. I know it might sound far-fetched, but stick with me for a second.
As a refresher, the NBA is set to introduce a "3-2-1" lottery format next season, which essentially flattens the lottery odds, with seven teams earning an 8.1 percent chance at the No. 1 pick, seven earning a 5.4 percent chance, and two earning a 2.7 percent chance. Furthermore, the teams with a bottom-three record would have their chances of earning a top pick reduced.
Whether you like the rule or not, the reality is that we will see far less outright tanking next year, and "the race to the bottom" will be eliminated. To this point, "floor raisers" like Gobert and Randle will become more valuable to rebuilding teams even if they don't perfectly align with their timelines.
What teams might be interested in Randle and Gobert?
There's no denying Gobert and Randle have clear flaws. The last two playoffs have proven this. At the same time, you'd be foolish not to acknowledge that Gobert can transform any defense he's on, and Randle can improve a team's offensive floor. With all teams now being incentivized to win, these players will become significantly more valuable.
We'll have to wait for further reporting to confirm this, but two teams that jump out to me are the Brooklyn Nets and New Orleans Pelicans. The Nets are doubly motivated to take on a floor raiser since they don't have their pick next year. Conversely, the Pelicans could look to transform their defensive culture and attempt to compete by adding Gobert.
A deal centered around Randle for Nic Claxton and Gobert for Dejounte Murray could set up an awesome offseason for the Wolves. Murray would give the Wolves an All-Star-level point guard and a malleable second option next to Ant. Claxton could give the Wolves a similar archetype to Gobert with more offensive production, and he would be a better fit for Ant's timeline.
I'm just spitballing here, and there are surely other possibilities. Regardless, it's fair to assume that the NBA's new lottery rule could make the trade markets of Gobert and Randle more robust than some might be anticipating.
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