Rudy Gobert had a topsy-turvy postseason. The Utah Jazz alum basically shut down Nikola Jokic, a three-time MVP and future Hall of Famer, but then proceeded to get embarrassed by Victor Wembanyama the following round. Now, the Minnesota Timberwolves are beginning to question if he's their best option going forward, much like the Jazz did back in 2022.
Jake Fischer revealed on Bleacher Report's live stream that the Timberwolves have been pondering whether keeping Gobert truly is the right decision.
"Rudy Gobert, as much as he's been an absolute floor raiser that helped Minnesota win significant games in regular season year after year, his shortcomings offensively have been shown. He had a good series with Nikola Jokic this spring, but I do think there are starting to be some questions in Minnesota about the viability of Gobert long-term," Fischer said.
Gobert has given the Timberwolves everything he can. In fact, even with how much they gave up in that deal, he's made it clear that he was worth the heavy price tag. Minnesota won two playoff series in franchise history before acquiring Gobert. Since then, they've won five in the last three years.
It may not have gotten the Timberwolves a title, but it's gotten them as close as they've ever been. Even so, it's hard not to look at their limited playoff success and think it's going to get better from here.
Minnesota has had more success with Gobert than Utah did, and even then, it still hasn't been that much better. They've gotten to the Conference Finals, but they still haven't really close to the NBA Finals.
For that reason, and Gobert not getting any younger, Minnesota has a big decision to make whether he truly is their guy going forward.
The big difference between the two
Utah traded Gobert because they knew that they weren't going any further than they would have liked plus they believed it was in their best interest to start over. Minnesota shouldn't and doesn't think that way. While the commonality is the notion of trading Gobert, the Jazz did so to rebuild back in 2022, the Timberwolves' may do so with the aim being to retool.
If Minnesota decides they have to trade Gobert, they would want for a win-now package. More specifically, they would prefer a team that's better than they are with Gobert or one that matches up with the West's best teams better than they would with Gobert.
The irony in all of this is that the Jazz themselves plan to do everything they can to be on that same level next season. If they are better than the Timberwolves as a result of an impending Gobert trade next season, oh boy...
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