MINNEAPOLIS — Rudy Gobert is officially a member of the Minnesota Timberwolves.
The team tweeted that the trade, which included sending Malik Beasley, Patrick Beverley, Jarred Vanderbilt, Walker Kessler, Leandro Bolmaro and four first-round picks (2023, 2025, 2027, 2029) for the former Utah center, is now official. The two teams are also swapping 2026 first-round picks.
"I'm just really excited to be here," said Gobert during an introductory press conference Wednesday. "Thank you team for believing in me and putting me in this amazing situation. I want to win."
Last season, Gobert averaged 15.6 points, 14.7 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per game.
There has been a lot of off-season speculation that the Wolves front office want their star center Karl-Anthony Towns, who just signed $224 million super max extension, to play a lot more power forward.
"I think we're going to have to build a system that's flexible enough to take on the different looks that we're going to see -- some of that's going to happen as we go along, something we can prepare for," said Wolves head coach Chris Finch. "Offensively, I don't see a whole lot changing. Honestly, the way that we play, we stick to our main points. ... We think that he fits perfectly inside of what we already do."
This move will make that possible, but the deal cost Minnesota a large number of starting players and first-round picks, including their 19th overall pick of Kessler, the 7-foot-1 center from Auburn.
Gobert, who was born in Saint-Quentin, France, is a three-time NBA All-Star and has won the NBA Defensive Player of the Year award three times. Gobert has four years and $170 million left on a five-year, $205 million deal he signed with the Jazz last summer.
Beverley, one of the exiting Wolves, tweeted to fans as word of the trade spread, "Always business. Wolves Thank you. Time to take another team 2 Playoffs."
