When Rudy Gobert first heard about the proposed deal sending him to the Timberwolves, he told his agent Bouna Ndiaye that he needed a day or two to think about it, writes Chris Hine of The Star Tribune. After some deliberation, the three-time Defensive Player of the Year got fully on board with the move.
“After one day, I told him it was probably the best, most exciting situation in terms of basketball for me,” Gobert told reporters on Wednesday.
As Michael Rand of The Star Tribune details, the deal will deplete the Timberwolves’ depth to some extent, but the trade-off should be worth it, as Minnesota will have one of the NBA’s best starting fives.
The deal has major boom-or-bust potential, according to John Hollinger of The Athletic, who notes that the Wolves are betting big on “big ball” by pairing Gobert with Karl-Anthony Towns. If the twin-towers approach works for Minnesota, it could “quickly spawn imitators,” says Hollinger. If it doesn’t, it’ll be a costly mistake that could set the franchise back for years to come.
Here’s more from around the Western Conference:
- Ja Morant‘s new maximum-salary extension with the Grizzlies includes a 15% trade kicker, but it doesn’t feature a fifth-year player option, Hoops Rumors has learned. That means Morant will remain under team control through the 2027/28 season.
- Jason Preston will be available for the Clippers‘ Summer League team after missing his entire rookie season due to right foot surgery. According to Andrew Greif of The Los Angeles Times, about three weeks after the Clippers’ season ended, Preston was able to start participating in 5-on-5 scrimmages without restrictions.
- The Warriors are promoting assistant coach Jama Mahlalela to the front of their bench for the 2022/23 season, according to Anthony Slater of The Athletic (Twitter link). Mahlalela will fill the opening created by Mike Brown‘s departure to Sacramento, while Kenny Atkinson – who nearly departed for Charlotte himself – will replace Brown as Steve Kerr‘s lead assistant.
it could “quickly spawn imitators,” says Hollinger…. well, the Cavs already tried it last year.
Orlando is trying it through the draft with all these bigs
NoLA did it successfully with AD & Boogie
jama whositwhatsy
Don’t be like that. It’s not actually that hard to avoid disrespecting a person’s family name.
Big contract player under “team control”…rofl!
I think it’s more a statement from Ja that he wants to be in Memphis long term. the trade kicker is paid by the receiving team so it makes him a less attractive option for other team owners in the future, if a trade was imminent.
Um…No…It was a statement from Luke Adams that Morant is under team control. Trade kickers are fairly common.
Its always about the money and you can’t complain about the player doing what is best for him. He will still be young enough in 4 years baring injuries to sign a even bigger deal for more money.
Twin towers will destroy all the midgets in the league, can’t beat size!
“The deal has major boom-or-bust potential”
This is the Timberpuppies making this move so no debate or unrealistic expectations based on the team’s historical “accomplishments”.
THIS WILL BE AN ASTRONOMICAL BUST!!
“If the twin-towers approach works for Minnesota….. If it doesn’t, it’ll be a costly mistake that could set the franchise back for years to come.”
EXCUSE ME !!
This cursed franchise has been “set back” since it’s inception in 1989.
Who’s your team?
No matter how many times you change your username, I will always know who you are. Lmao all thanks to strange things you say almost every time. “Cursed franchise” “inception in 1989”