Utah Jazz: 3 All-Star players that could be attainable in Rudy Gobert trade
Klay Thompson
This is definitely an interesting one. One that also might have some readers spit out their drink in disgust. Would the Golden State Warriors break up the Splash Brothers to make room for what would be the best defensive frontcourt in the NBA? It’s something to at least consider.
The Warriors were straight-up embarrassing during the 2019-20 season.
Stephen Curry missed most of the season with a hand injury, Klay Thompson missed all of the season recovering from ACL surgery, and they eventually traded their star free-agent addition in D’Angelo Russell.
It was a tough pill to swallow for fans who grew accustomed to Golden State’s winning ways. This down year does give the Warriors a top choice in this year’s draft, which they could eventually use as trade bait. That could interest a team like Utah, but nabbing an All-Star player to remain competitive is more likely.
The casual fan will probably tell you that Thompson is a far better player than Rudy Gobert, but that’s not the case. You wouldn’t look foolish claiming Gobert was the better player prior to Klay’s injury, and wouldn’t look foolish claiming it after the fact.
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The guy is a two-time Defensive Player of the Year winner, an all-time great rim protector and one of the most efficient scorers in NBA history.
Thompson is, though, also one of the best two-way players in basketball. He’s an elite shooter that has fit perfectly in Golden State’s system. Without him, they may not have any rings to their name. He’s someone that I would certainly say has been majorly underappreciated over the years.
Golden State is looking to reload and contend for a championship next season. They’ll be bringing back a healthy Stephen Curry, to go with the underrated Draymond Green. They are especially weak at the center spot, which is why Gobert could be an interesting option for them.
Gobert and Thompson are close when it comes to salary, so putting together a deal shouldn’t be too difficult. This is, though, a drastic change for the Warriors. Thompson has been with the Warriors through thick and thin and has publically expressed his desire to remain in The Bay for his entire career.
It’s also probably not the most realistic option, but it’s also something that shouldn’t be brushed under the rug.