After losing embarrassingly to the San Antonio Spurs, multiple reports have come out that the Timberwolves will go big fish hunting this offseason to compete with the top of the Western Conference.
With Minnesota identifying Anthony Edwards, Jaden McDaniels, Naz Reid, and Joan Beringer as their core for the future, key contributors like Rudy Gobert and Julius Randle seem to be up for trade. Both players are coming off disappointing playoff performances against the Spurs, at times being unplayable for Minnesota.
While finding a suitor for a Randle trade may be a difficult task, Minnesota would have many suitors for Gobert should they trade him, with one team in particular having the perfect player in return.
A one-for-one deal between the Timberwolves and the Celtics between Rudy Gobert and Derrick White could be the perfect solution for both teams, as Boston desperately needs a big man, and the Timberwolves desperately need a guard to pair with Edwards.
Why Minnesota does this trade
The Rudy Gobert era has been extremely successful for the Timberwolves. Despite giving a multitude of assets to the Jazz, Gobert has been everything the Timberwolves have hoped for, as Minnesota has made the playoffs every year since his arrival, including back-to-back conference finals appearances.
However, as the team prepares to gear up for a new era centered around Edwards, Gobert's time in Minnesota may be coming to an end. With this trade, Minnesota nets an ideal backcourt mate for Edwards in Derrick White.
Undoubtedly, White's 3-point shooting and playmaking are ideal next to Edwards. Additionally, White is one of the premier guard defenders in the league, something Minnesota has desperately been searching for. With White, Minnesota could deploy him as the primary perimeter defender and utilize McDaniels as a weak-side rim protector, a role we have seen him excel in, at times.
White is coming off a career year, with averages of 16.5 points and 5.4 assists, with a combined 2.4 stocks per game. However, White struggled mightily in the seven-game series against the 76ers, only averaging 11.1 points per game.
As the Celtics look to make some potential roster shake-ups, White would have an ideal fit with Minnesota and could be the guard they've been longing for.
Why Boston does this trade
Entering the playoffs, the Celtics were the heavy favorite to win the Eastern Conference. Jayson Tatum was finally hitting his stride coming off his Achilles injury, and Jaylen Brown was in the midst of an MVP-caliber regular season.
Nevertheless, Boston would flame out in just the first round, blowing a 3-1 lead to Philadelphia. The series loss pointed out a glaring weak point for the team, as an injured Joel Embiid was able to dominate the Boston bigs.
With no real options at the five in free agency, Boston can turn to the trade market and secure one of the premier defensive players in the league.
Gobert would not have the offensive responsibility that he has in Minnesota, while benefiting from significantly more spacing in Boston. The outside-inside infrastructure of the Celtics' offense would allow Gobert to find easy dunks and provide much-needed interior presence for Boston's three-point-reliant offense.
Defensively, Gobert would serve as the anchor Boston has desperately been searching for. While Boston has preferred smaller, more mobile bigs such as Al Horford, the size and deterrence that Gobert would offer are simply undeniable.
Additionally, Gobert's ability to turn shots away from the rim plays to the advantage of Boston's perimeter defenders, such as Jordan Walsh and Hugo Gonzalez, allowing them to play more aggressively, with the assurance of backline support from Gobert.
While costly, the defensive impact and size Gobert offers fit exactly what Boston needs, as they look to get back into finals contention.
When looking at both sides of this trade, Boston would likely have some hesitancy in parting with White. Since trading for him in the 2022 season, White has been integral to the team's success.
Additionally, the Celtics would inherit Gobert's large contract for at least the next year. White's contract is cheaper and is locked up for the next two years, with a player contract for a third year.
While this trade may be risky on both ends, it can pay massive dividends for both the Timberwolves and Celtics. As both teams come off disappointing playoff exits, this risky trade may be the exact chance they must take to get back into finals contention.
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