SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH - DECEMBER 09: Rudy Gobert #27 of the Minnesota Timberwolves dunks during the second half of a game against the Utah Jazz at Vivint Arena on December 09, 2022 in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images)
One Year Later: Grading the Rudy Gobert trade with the Minnesota Timberwolves
Dec 9, 2022; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert (27) dunks over Utah Jazz center Walker Kessler (24) in the firs half at Vivint Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Swinger-USA TODAY Sports
Verdict
For the Minnesota Timberwolves, it’s unfair to grade the trade solely off of last year. The Wolves were beaten up, hurt, constantly changing over their roster, and trying to fit so many new pieces into a situation without really knowing if it’ll work. They’ve had an offseason to re-adjust, and hopefully a healthy lineup this year will get them into more of a serious position to compete for a title.
So, it’s fair to give the Timberwolves a B- for the trade. Gobert still played well, even if the team wasn’t built for him to excel. The focus for the team right now seems to make it work between Towns and Gobert, and if they can, this will be a tough team to beat in the playoffs.
As for the Jazz, how can you give them anything other than an A+? In 10 years, maybe this is an “F-trade”, but as of today, the Jazz likely have two, if not for sure starters, two potential starters in Keyonte George and Walker Kessler. Kessler is a guaranteed starter, and George may for sure earn his spot depending on how the others at his position play. If they both are starters at some point this season, this trade is an automatic win for the Jazz.
You trade one starter for two? That’s usually a win. Plus you got Talen Horton-Tucker in this trade by proxy, and he may be a big chip for you down the line to move as well. This trade set the Jazz up for years.
![""](https://thejnotes.com/2023/08/10/one-year-later-did-the-utah-jazz-win-the-rudy-gobert-trade-with-the-minnesota-timberwolves/3/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1706,w_2560/https%3A%2F%2Fthejnotes.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fimagn-images%2F2017%2F07%2F19595250-scaled.jpeg")
promising big in Walker Kessler</a>, but off of the first pick acquired from the ‘Wolves got Keyonte George. George excelled in the Summer League and has many thinking he may push for a starting job either this year or next.</p>
<p>If those two young men turn into stars and nothing else from this trade develops, those two players could fortify the Jazz for the next 10-15 years. Coupled with the other draft picks that the T-Wolves sent over, plus the players that were also shipped out following the deal, this trade may set the Jazz up for not just the next decade, but the next decades to come.</p>
<h2>Future outlook for The Minnesota Timberwolves</h2>
<p>Yikes. Rudy Gobert and Karl-Anthony Towns did not mesh well, but that’s not surprising, as Towns doesn’t seem to gel well with guys like Gobert or Jimmy Butler. Anytime you pair him with a defensive-minded player, things get rocky. Anthony Edwards seems to be the real deal, however, and could be the playmaker needed to take the Timberwolves to the next level. So while they gave up a lot to get Gobert, they can easily pivot, recoup some assets and stay the course with Edwards as their centerpiece.</p>
<p>The Wolves do not have a bleak future at all, they just don’t have the room needed to improve this team as needed, unless they opt to trade Gobert or Towns.</p>
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got Talen Horton-Tucker</a> in this trade by proxy, and he may be a big chip for you down the line to move as well. This trade set the Jazz up for years.</p>
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> <div class="story-link-next"> <a class="story-link-next-btn" style="background: #00265D" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="story-link-next-shortcode" href=https://thejnotes.com/2023/08/10/one-year-later-did-the-utah-jazz-win-the-rudy-gobert-trade-with-the-minnesota-timberwolves/3/"https://thejnotes.com/2023/08/09/one-year-later-grading-utah-jazz-trade-bojan-bogdanovic-withthe-detroit-pistons/"> <span class="call_to_action">Next:</span> One Year Later: Grading the Utah Jazz trade of Bojan Bogdanovic with the Detroit </a> </div>
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