We’ve all made mistakes. Sometimes, the best you can do is minimize the damage of the errors you’ve made. That can even be true for NBA teams. They may make a trade that they grow to regret. Can they find a way to do some damage control?
The Minnesota Timberwolves are likely asking themselves these questions. This team made a blockbuster deal for Rudy Gobert last summer.
They gave up a whopping four unprotected first-round picks for him. The idea was for an elite rim protector to compensate for Karl-Anthony Towns’ defensive shortcomings.
So far, it hasn’t worked. Towns has struggled mightily to guard the league’s quicker 4s. The Wolves have had to grind their offense down to a pace that doesn’t suit Anthony Edwards. Acquiring Gobert may have been a mistake.
Could they make up for that error by sending Gobert to the San Antonio Spurs?
NBA Trade Proposal — San Antonio Spurs Land Rudy Gobert
Minnesota Timberwolves Receive: F Doug McDermott, G Devonte’ Graham, F Cedi Osman
San Antonio Spurs Receive: C Rudy Gobert
Every general manager in the NBA tries to avoid mistakes. Yet, that’s not the only ingredient for success in this league. Teams need to be prudent, but at the same time, they need a lot of luck as well.
This summer, the Spurs got pretty lucky. They landed the number one pick in the NBA draft. That alone is the type of luck that can change a franchise’s fortunes.
With that said, when Victor Wembanyama is in the draft, it’s an especially strong stroke of luck. The Spurs hit the jackpot. What will they do next?
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Rudy Gobert, Minnesota Timberwolves, San Antonio Spurs Updates
Well, they need to make the right decisions. Lady luck has done her part. Is acquiring Gobert the best way to move forward with Wembanyama?
Why The San Antonio Spurs Do The Deal
Wembanyama could be this team’s center of the future. On the other hand, by all accounts, he’d prefer to play the 4. Wembanyama seemingly wants to avoid the physicality that comes along with playing the 5.
Fair enough. The Spurs have Zach Collins to play the five at the moment. To his credit, he’s performed well. Yet, he doesn’t feel like a long, or even medium-term answer as a starter, does he?
Collins profiles as a high-value reserve who can play both the five and the four off the bench in different situations. On the other hand, Gobert is one of the best rim protectors in NBA history.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Rudy Gobert, Minnesota Timberwolves, San Antonio Spurs Updates
Imagine him paired with Wembanyama. With Gobert as the primary rim protector, Wembanyama could feast as a roamer and weak side-shot blocker. This deal should make the Spurs a better team, and by the time they need to extend Wembanyama, Gobert’s large deal will expire.
Should the Wolves sell low on their big man?
Why The Minnesota Timberwolves Do The Deal
Landing the first overall pick is a very fortunate event for an NBA franchise. The Timberwolves have done it twice. They drafted Karl-Anthony Towns, and then they drafted Anthony Edwards. Surely they can put a winning team around that duo?
Trading for Gobert wasn’t the right way to go about it. Minnesota would be better off keeping Towns at the five and using Jaden McDaniels as a defensive anchor.
So, that’s what they’d be doing here. Meanwhile, they’d be adding three quality rotation players in the process. The Wolves would be improving their depth by making this deal. Are they taking a value loss?
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Rudy Gobert, Minnesota Timberwolves, San Antonio Spurs Updates
Absolutely – and it’s a large one. At the same time, if it results in a playoff run for Minnesota, it could still be worth their time. In the end, they’d be doing the best that they could to fix a mistake.
