God knows it’s tempting to think and speculate on whatever Kevin Durant’s next stop will be. A domino too big has yet to fall, as the entire NBA seems to be waiting for. But that gave us plenty of time to hear the range of possibilities that could lie ahead for one of the greatest players of his generation. Phoenix. Miami. Toronto. Maybe even Golden State, which would surprise this time even more than last time.
Since we have no idea when we might trade Durant, or even when we might get Kyrie Irving, it might make more sense to talk about the latest blockbuster that fell.
That, of course, would be the one in which the Timberwolves essentially gave up five first-round picks — three of which are fully unprotected — in a trade of picks and three high-rotation players in a deal for three-time All-Star quarterback Rudy Gobert.
Similar to what we saw with the Hawks’ deal for San Antonio’s Dejounte Murray, the club certainly sent a lot of money to get their man, perhaps even more so in Minnesota’s case. Two similarities were immediately apparent in these enormous stores. First, the Hawks and Timberwolves spent big to double down on the position their best players already occupy. Second, they may have given us a new, improved indicator of how credit-hungry NBA teams can spend. To put it another way: it’s one thing to send a boatload of picks overboard, but it’s much more risky to throw them at another franchise without any protection. But it’s also a way to sweeten an offer beyond what another club might be willing to put on the table. (Maybe that saved Minnesota from having to deal with someone like Jaden McDaniels to get it done.)
The Jazz got a huge haul after sending Gobert to the Timberwolves.
Still, I can be honest and say that my first thought when the deal was made was, Damn, if that’s what it takes to get Gobert, what the hell is someone going to sacrifice for Durant? (My second thought was: The Wolves at least presented this offer to Brooklyn to see what the Nets would say, right? And it turns out they were, apparently, talking.) In addition to loosening the protection even more, the team really he can’t throw that many more picks into combat. The only real thing the Nets could ask for more is talent, which likely means a bona fide young star along with a youngster or two with star potential and the aforementioned array of picks.
In any case: the Timberwolves game is fascinating. That could certainly lift them into contention to win the Western Conference, but at the same time, no one would argue that it makes them the most likely, or even the second or third most likely, to make the Finals in the next year or two. This route can of course change over time. Rising star Anthony Edwards won’t be old enough to legally drink for another month, and Karl-Anthony Towns will turn 27 this fall. Prior to the recent arrival of chief executive Tim Connelly, the Wolves finished seventh, 13th and 10th in the league in attacking efficiency, defensive efficiency and net rating respectively – numbers that have historically indicated a team on the brink of real contention.
But now the calculus has shifted. In addition to shuffling the circuit by sending out key players Malik Beasley, Patrick Beverley and Jarred Vanderbilt, Minnesota went against the grain in a huge way.
In two years, when Towns’ supermax extension kicks in, he and the 30-year-old Gobert will each make nearly $94 million a year. Almost nine numbers per season for two guys who generally both play the center position. That doesn’t affect Edwards at all, who is also on track to earn a max contract.
It’s often said that Gobert in and of himself — his shot blocking, his shot deflection — is one of the best defenses. Just add water. That was the case last regular season, even though Utah’s defensive backs resembled Swiss cheese most of the night. But as we’ve seen a few times in the postseason, with how otherworldly Gobert is at protecting the paint, he can only do so much in moments when the guard is going full steam toward the basket and has a big stretch or an open teammate in the corner. The Clippers exploited small ball to perfection in 2021, and then Jalen Brunson and the Mavs continued to expand the Jazz, with Maxi Kleber and Davis Bertans wreaking havoc as the beneficiaries of repeated slam-dunk opportunities.
And it begs the question: How would the Wolves, with Towns at power forward and Gobert at center, look against elite teams struggling to be smaller? Teams like the Warriors, the Clippers at full strength, the Celtics? Giannis-at-the-five Bucks? Should a club like the Suns get Durant? Could Minnesota handle the pace on defense in matchups like this?
There’s also a somewhat fair question as to whether the offense would always hum with such a pairing. Some have criticized the thought process in trading for Gobert, saying spacing will be the problem. I don’t know that I buy this, necessarily. Towns is a fantastic perimeter shooter for the bigs, and Gobert is a great defender and vertical spacer, as well as being good on the offensive glass. I think the bigger challenge might be something I witnessed while covering the Knicks for The Wall Street Journal. Specifically, those New York players who shut out both Amar’e Stoudemire and Tyson Chandler — completely different players with very different skill sets. Stoudemire was one of the most accurate long-range shooters in the league; Chandler was an ever-present lob threat. But the common similarity was that each actor was completely used to being an actor. And by definition, when they played together in New York, one of them had to play off the ball early in the set.
That becomes my question here. Does Towns end up being underutilized in his minutes with Gobert for the same reason, or can the Timberwolves find a solution? (Another question: Will Towns be able to punish the smaller defenders who will now have to guard him? He often looks uncomfortable or overzealous when trying to draw smaller defenders, picking up offensive fouls, as he has done several times in play-by-play .game and in the first round against Memphis.) Will Gobert take over the dunk spot with Towns serving as a playmaker on screens? If not, where will Gobert be and will defenses really need to pay attention to him?
Assuming he returns, D’Angelo Russell will have a big responsibility in checking everything to keep the offense running, as will Chris Finch and the Wolves coaching staff. But they absolutely have the talent to be a 55-win regular season team. The bigger question is whether their new lineup — and its highly unusual nature in today’s NBA — will be destined to elude them again and again in the postseason. And if that happens, Connelly and the Wolves may regret the high, high price they paid to get bigger in a league that has gotten smaller and more athletic.
Meat and potatoes: Good reads from SI and elsewhere this past week
Brittney Griner said she fears being detained in Russia indefinitely. This may interest you : B-Boy Victor Life All About Balance.
All of this is very interesting to me, because a few months ago, when the details of Griner’s detention were leaked, we all heard that people in her circle preferred to keep quiet about the ordeal, worried that too much noise would cause a script. worse.
Griner personally asking the president for help strikes a much different tone. It’s desperate, and given the situation — one in which Russia may be holding her back for negotiations in the middle of a war with Ukraine — that desperation seems justified.
News aside, we’ll be taking a summer break for a while. In the meantime, don’t forget to follow me @Herring_NBA on Twitter and the rest of my colleagues at @TheCrossover. And, if you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to email nba@si.com. Thanks for reading.
