Jazz trade Gobert to Timberwolves
For the Jazz, one era is ending.
For the Timberwolves, one seems to be beginning.
The Jazz have agreed to trade Rudy Gobert — a three-time Defensive Player of the Year — to the Timberwolves for a massive package of players and draft picks.
Utah will receive four first-round picks between 2023 and 2029, a first-round pick from this year’s draft in Walker Kessler, along with Patrick Beverley and Malik Beasley.
ESPN, which first reported the trade, also said Jarred Vanderbilt was going from Minnesota to the Jazz as part of the deal for Gobert — who now gets paired alongside another elite big man in Karl-Anthony Towns.
“5 firsts …. Sheeeeeshhhhh,” Pelicans guard CJ McCollum posted on Twitter.
Indeed, it is a slew of assets for the Jazz, who made the playoffs in each of the last six seasons and now seem to be resetting in multiple ways.
Quin Snyder decided to depart last month after eight years as coach; the Jazz hired Will Hardy, a longtime Spurs assistant and an assistant for the Celtics on their run to the Eastern Conference title this past season, to take over on the bench. Hardy, 34, is a graduate of St. Christopher’s School in Richmond.
And now, Gobert leaves, officially ending his pairing with guard Donovan Mitchell in Utah — an on-court relationship that seemed really good at times and strained at other moments. And a series of disappointing playoff exits led to the annual question of whether the two could coexist on a title-contending team.
Gobert is part of a new duo now: Twin Towers in the Twin Cities.
He’ll start alongside Towns, forming what arguably will be the best 1-2 big-man punch in the league. The Timberwolves, barring other moves, could have a starting lineup of D’Angelo Russell, Anthony Edwards, Jaden McDaniels, Gobert and Towns.
The Timberwolves struck the deal less than 24 hours after coming to an agreement on a $224 million, four-year extension with Towns, who is now under contract for the next six years.
Gobert has four years and $170 million left on a five-year, $205 million deal he signed with the Jazz last summer.
LaVine stays with Bulls: Day 2 of NBA free agency on Friday brought another max deal — this time, going to Zach LaVine, who secured the richest contract in Chicago Bulls history when he agreed to a $215 million, five-year contract.
Booker, Suns agree on extension: To no surprise, the Phoenix Suns gave Devin Booker a four-year extension early Friday that will begin with the 2024-25 season and pay him an additional $224 million over that span. Combined with what he’s already made, and what he’ll make over the next two seasons, the extension guarantees that Booker will be up to nearly $400 million in on-court earnings alone by the time that deal expires.
Wall headed to Clippers: Five-time All-Star John Wall — bought out by the Rockets — announced he agreed to a two-year deal with the Los Angeles Clippers.
Wall was under contract for $47.4 million this season, got bought out by Houston for about $41 million, and will get the $6.4 million difference from the Clippers. Wall hasn’t played in the NBA since April 2021, and has appeared in just 82 games, including playoffs, over the last four-and-a-half seasons.
Layups: Ricky Rubio agreed to return to the Cleveland Cavaliers on a three-year, $18.4 million deal . ... The Hawks traded Kevin Huerter to the Kings for Justin Holiday, Mo Harkless and a future conditional draft pick. Huerter, a former Maryland Terrapin, has been one of Atlanta’s most reliable outside-shooting options, but the Hawks might be seeking better defense with their latest additions . ... Mitchell Robinson agreed Friday to a $60 million, four-year contract to remain with the New York Knicks . ... Jusuf Nurkic got by far the biggest payday of his career, agreeing to a four-year, $70 million contract with the Portland Trail Blazers.