On October 24, Minnesota Timberwolves big man Rudy Gobert is eligible for a three-year, $165 million extension. Notably, he has two seasons left on his current three-year, $109.5 million deal, which includes a $38 million player option next summer. Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic said that he hasn't heard any real momentum toward an extension happening immediately.
Frankly, it's understandable that these talks aren't super active a month in advance. The reality is that Gobert's value is hard to determine at age 34, and possible growth from second-year big man Joan Beringer adds another layer of complexity.
Gobert is still playing at an elite level, particularly on defense. Likewise, he is an integral part of the team's success.
Given that his current contract is comfortably below what he's eligible for and that he took a pay cut in 2024, I don't think he's asking for the full $165 million. However, something similar to what he's making now feels like a fair ask from his perspective. Right now, that contract is good value, placing him as the league's 47th highest-paid player.
Still, as a 34-year-old center, you have to wonder about decline at some point, especially since Gobert has never been an elite offensive player. Thus, paying him upwards of $30 million per year for several seasons is risky.
It makes sense for both sides to wait this process out
It makes perfect sense to see how Gobert and Beringer look this season before making such a big commitment.
The other factor is that Anthony Edwards, LaMelo Ball, and Jaden McDaniels all need new contracts. As such, a three-year extension could have some difficult long-term implications, in addition to the age concerns. In the second apron era, these contract decisions require the utmost care. And that's why I think this won't be solved until next summer.
In my eyes, the ideal number for the Timberwolves would be a front-loaded two-year, $50 million deal. I might be slightly off on this value one way or another, but a shorter-term deal like this would negate some of the age-related risks with Gobert and keep the Wolves' books open for the aforementioned extensions.
But would Gobert be willing to accept a deal like this? Probably not, especially now. This is Gobert's last chance to secure a big long-term deal. Plus, despite Gobert's age, his importance to the Wolves may only increase, with LaMelo Ball in the mix, which could give him some leverage down the road.
The point being, what the Timberwolves view as an ideal contract likely isn't something Gobert is eager to sign right now. That's not to say the two sides won't reach a middle ground. Regardless, it's something I'd expect to happen later down the road given these factors.
Now, Gobert taking a pay cut two years ago could bode well for the Timberwolves inking a team-friendly deal at some point. Furthermore, Gobert is focused on winning, and the Wolves offer an ideal basketball situation. Perhaps the Wolves could negotiate for his $38 million salary to decrease next season while giving him some long-term security.
Even still, there's no guarantee that Gobert will take less money again, especially so early in the process. As such, I think these talks won't be settled for a while, perhaps even next summer, and assuming Gobert picks up his player option, there's no harm in this for both sides.
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