NBA Free Agency 2022: Utah Jazz trade Rudy Gobert to Minnesota Timberwolves

The Utah Jazz have traded three-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert to the Minnesota Timberwolves, per Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.

In return, the Jazz will acquire Malik Beasley, Patrick Beverley, Leandro Bolmaro, Walker Kessler, Jarred Vanderbilt, and four first-round draft picks. With so many new faces on their roster and a new head coach after the resignation of Quin Snyder last month, Utah will be having a fresh start in the coming season.

Gobert plus Towns

The trade pairs Gobert with fellow star big man Karl-Anthony Towns, who will be freed up to play as a power forward. They are both in long-term deals, with the Frenchman still having four seasons left on his five-year, $205 million contract, and Towns fresh from landing a $224 million supermax extension.

Gobert is widely recognized as the NBA’s best rim protector, averaging a league-leading 14.7 rebounds per game last season. He has made the All-Defensive first team consistently for the past five seasons. Minnesota ended last season ranking 13th in defense, and the three-time NBA All-Star may help them level up.

The 30-year-old has recorded an average of 12.4 points, 11.7 rebounds and 2.2 blocks per game over his career.

Gobert was secured by the Denver Nuggets in the 2013 NBA Draft as the 27th pick in the first round and was traded on the same night to the Jazz, with whom he has spent nine seasons. Utah has consistently made the playoffs in recent years but have not managed to advance past the conference semifinals, losing in the first round to the Dallas Mavericks last season.