Will Timberwolves Regret Pursuing Rudy Gobert Over Dejounte Murray?

Rudy Gobert, Minnesota Timberwolves, Atlanta Hawks, NBA Trade Rumors
NBA Analysis Network

The Minnesota Timberwolves made a huge trade at the beginning of NBA free agency, acquiring Rudy Gobert from the Utah Jazz. It wasn’t shocking to see, as the Timberwolves set out to find a defensive complement to Karl-Anthony Towns in the frontcourt this offseason. What was shocking was the staggering price that Minnesota paid to acquire him.

The Timberwolves sent Jarred Vanderbilt, Malik Beasley, Walker Kessler, Leandro Bolmaro, Patrick Beverley and four first-round picks to the Jazz; five picks if you count Kessler, who was the No. 22 overall selection in the 2022 NBA Draft. The selections in 2023, 2025 and 2027 are all unprotected, while the 2029 first-round pick has top-five protection on it. There is also a pick swap in 2026.

That is a steep price to pay, but the Timberwolves believe it is worthwhile. Their floor is now raised, as they should push toward 50+ wins during the 2022-23 season. The combination of Gobert and Towns will be a lot for teams to handle, especially with Anthony Edwards continuing his ascent.

In the postseason the dual big man lineup could run into some issues, but that is something head coach Chris Finch will have to worry about then. The Timberwolves are a better team right now than they were before the trade, but it is fair to question the cost.

That is an astronomical amount of draft picks to fork over and to have protections on only one pick is certainly a risk. It will raise the question of whether or not Minnesota made the right deal going after Gobert when someone such as Dejounte Murray was available.

LATEST NBA NEWS AND TRADE RUMORS: Jazz-Timberwolves Trade Sends Rudy Gobert To Minnesota

The Minnesota Timberwolves were in discussions for Murray as well before the San Antonio Spurs traded the All-Star point guard to the Atlanta Hawks. It was a pick-centric deal as well, as the Hawks sent three first-round picks, all unprotected, and a pick swap, also unprotected, to San Antonio along with Danilo Gallinari.

Minnesota has a sizable expiring deal in D’Angelo Russell that could have been the centerpiece of a deal with the Spurs. They could have taken back some more money in Doug McDermott or Zach Collins should the Spurs have wanted to slash more salary.

However, to acquire Dejounte Murray, there likely would have been more moving parts and potentially another trade to be made. That could have ultimately resulted in Minnesota needing to spend even more assets to clear the logjams on their roster.

LATEST NBA NEWS AND TRADE RUMORS: Jazz-Timberwolves Trade Sends Rudy Gobert To Minnesota

With the Gobert trade, no such logjam exists. He will slide into the starting center spot, with Towns sliding down to the power forward spot that Vanderbilt held. Gobert also fills the biggest need that Minnesota identified coming into the offseason.

Murray would have been an upgrade defensively on the perimeter and brings a more efficient offensive game along with him than Russell has. However, he likely wouldn’t have been as impactful as the third option offensively behind Edwards and Towns.

Gobert doesn’t need the ball in his hands to make an impact. He provides Minnesota with a deadly pick-and-roll partner for Russell and someone that is a lob threat, providing the team with a rim runner to occupy the middle. You are acquiring him for the impact that he will have on your defense; anything else he provides offensively is a bonus.

LATEST NBA NEWS AND TRADE RUMORS: Jazz-Timberwolves Trade Sends Rudy Gobert To Minnesota

Could Minnesota have saved a draft pick and some of the players that were traded to Utah in a deal with the San Antonio Spurs for Dejounte Murray? Sure, it would have cost less since his contract isn’t as expensive as Gobert’s. But Murray is a point guard and that isn’t where the Minnesota Timberwolves needed help.

They sought help for the frontcourt and ultimately found it in Gobert. The three-time Defensive Player of the Year provides the team with an anchor on that end of the court and an All-Star that isn’t a flight risk of leaving any time soon.

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