Even as someone who is in favor of the Minnesota Timberwolves trading Rudy Gobert, it's undeniable that his defensive value is immense. This past season, the Wolves' defense was 11.8 points better with Gobert on the court -- a number that ranked in the 98th percentile per Cleaning the Glass.
As such, if the Wolves trade Gobert, they must find a way to keep their defensive identity intact to some extent. While getting a solid rim protector back for either Gobert or Julius Randle (who is the team's most likely trade target) is a necessity, this alone won't be enough to make up for the loss of Gobert.
Trading for another rim protector and a defensive-minded guard would be ideal, though. This combination could help fill the void of losing Gobert.
Two clear targets that fit the bill of a defensive-minded guard are Derrick White and Jalen Suggs.
Minnesota has shown interest in White, whereas Suggs could be seen as a logical pivot given his similar skill set. In addition to his high-quality point of attack defense, White is highly versatile and can offer some secondary rim protection. Suggs, on the other hand, is an elite point of attack stopper.Â
Trading for a versatile guard would help the Wolves in the post-Gobert era
Amid talks of the Wolves possibly trading for one of these versatile guards or trades in general, the need to fortify a Gobert-less defense must be discussed. Not only would these players help the Wolves do that, but they could also allow Jaden McDaniels to roam off the ball more.
To win at the highest level, you need an elite level of two-way balance. Throughout the Gobert era, the Wolves have certainly had a championship-level team (in large part due to him). Yet, their offense has been a step below championship standards. Notably, they have ranked in the top 10 in offensive rating in just one of the four seasons with Gobert.
The Wolves' offense would benefit from trading Gobert. Again, though, they must ensure that they still have a competent defense and trading for a guard who is a plus defender is the best path to do so.
Frankly, it's easy to find a big man who would be an upgrade from Gobert on offense. Yet it's incredibly challenging to find one who can provide close to his otherworldly defense.
Even if the Wolves trade for an above-average rim protector, that would be a steep drop off from Gobert's elite standards. Given this, trading for a guard with defensive chops is ideal if they trade Gobert.
Nic Claxton has long been one of my favorite Gobert replacement options.
Let's just say, for simplicity's sake, they trade for him in a deal centered around Randle and pair this move with trading Gobert for someone like Suggs or White -- assuming they also re-sign Ayo Dosunmu, I would consider this a dream offseason.
The Wolves get younger and build a roster that better complements Anthony Edwards on offense while maintaining their defensive infrastructure. It's a well-rounded and complete roster.
I understand if you want more star power, but the reality is that would likely force the Wolves to gut their depth and/or defense significantly.
For example, if the Wolves trade for someone like Ja Morant, they'd likely trade Randle, Donte DiVincenzo, and the No. 28 pick. That sounds fine in theory, but the Wolves need to save money to re-sign Ayo, meaning you'd have to trade Gobert in a cap-saving move. In this scenario, your defense is taking a big step back.
The more I think about all of these factors, the more I think the path of not trading for a true star is ideal for Minnesota. Trading for both a versatile guard like White or Suggs, and a starting-caliber big man, would help the Wolves improve their roster, particularly from a fit standpoint.
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