While trading Julius Randle feels like a certainty for the Minnesota Timberwolves this summer, there's a lot more nuance regarding Rudy Gobert's future.
Gobert has helped transform the Wolves' culture and, more specifically, their defense since his arrival in 2022. In turn, defense has been the Wolves' primary identity since they traded for Gobert. They have had considerable success with Gobert, including two conference finals appearances.
Yet, it's worth noting that while the Wolves' defense has thrived, their offense with Gobert has not. In fact, in only one of the four years with Gobert has Minnesota's offense ranked in the top 10 for offensive rating per Cleaning the Glass.
That's not good enough for a team with championship aspirations. Gobert's offensive limitations were a key reason why the Wolves fell short against the San Antonio Spurs in the second-round of the playoffs. He averaged just 6.7 points on 45.5 percent shooting and was borderline unplayable.
Both against the Spurs last year and the Oklahoma City Thunder this year, Gobert's offense hindered the Wolves. These teams aren't going anywhere, and the soon-to-be 34-year-old isn't getting any better on offense.
To reach the next level, the Wolves' offense needs to become a bigger part of their identity, and that might not be possible without trading Gobert.
The Timberwolves should trade Rudy Gobert to elevate their offense
It's not a secret that the Wolves need another playmaker and shot creator alongside Anthony Edwards. Not only is trading Rudy a realistic route to filling this need, but Gobert is also part of the reason that Ant gets pressured so much by opposing defenses.
Teams don't respect Gobert as an offensive threat. Thus, on pick-and-rolls, opponents often blitz Edwards, which can be a highly effective strategy. Another ball handler would help with this, but again, Gobert is often the root cause of these problems.
Running five-out isn't realistic given that most centers don't space the floor. However, having a more respectable offensive threat at the five-man and having Naz Reid as a stretch four could prove to be highly beneficial.
Per Cleaning the Glass, Minnesota's offense was 8.4 points worse with Gobert on the court this past season. For reference, the Wolves' offense ranked in the 37th percentile with him on the court and the 92nd percentile with him off the court. That's a stark difference, to say the least.
There's no denying that Gobert's defensive impact is immense. To win at the highest level, though, you need two-way balance and a strong identity on both ends of the court. The Wolves have never had a clear offensive identity in the Gobert era.
Of course, that's not entirely his fault, but it's inherently harder to build a strong offense with a player who has the limitations that Gobert does.
Likewise, the Wolves have enough defensive talent to make up for the loss of Gobert, especially if they land another big man. Regardless, even if they flip Randle for a more dependable creator, I'm not sure if they'd have enough offensive juice to succeed at the highest level with Gobert.
Edwards has already done some amazing things with a roster that doesn't come close to maximizing his skill set, especially in the past two seasons. Just imagine what he could do with an offense better built around him, particularly a more offensively slanted center, and a true lead guard.
That thought is tantalizing, and it would give the Wolves a clear offensive identity, which could ultimately help them reach the promised land.
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