‘Goal is to win’ Gobert says as he joins Timberwolves
Three-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert said Wednesday (Thursday, Phl time) his mission with new team Minnesota is simple.
“The goal is to win a championship, that’s what I came here to do,” the 30-year-old French center said at an introductory press conference days after reports of his trade from the Utah Jazz shook up the NBA off season.
The Timberwolves confirmed they had acquired Gobert “in exchange for guards Patrick Beverley, Malik Beasley and forward Jarred Vanderbilt, along with guard Leandro Bolmaro, the draft rights to center Walker Kessler and Minnesota’s 2023, 2025, 2027 and 2029 first round picks and a 2026 first round pick swap.”
Gobert, 30, has spent all nine of his National Basketball Association seasons with Utah, where he helped the Jazz reach the playoffs for six straight years.
Last season he averaged 15.6 points per game, a league-leading 14.7 rebounds and 2.1 blocked shots.
In Minnesota, the player dubbed the “Stifle
Tower” will be teaming with another star big man in Karl-Anthony Towns, who has reportedly agreed to a four-year, $224 million extension.
Gobert admitted that he wasn’t initially sure that a “Twin Tower” pairing with Towns would suit him, but after thinking about it for a couple days he thought it would be an exciting fit.
“My goal is to make Karl a better player on both ends, make his life easier,” Gobert said, adding that he thought Towns could do the same for him.
The blockbuster deal for Gobert was among the major moves reported last Friday as the league’s free agent negotiating period opened.
But Wednesday was the first day players could sign contracts for the 2022-23 season.
The New Orleans Pelicans confirmed they had inked Zion Williamson to a five-year maximum rookie contract extension -- worth $193 million but reportedly with escalator clause incentives that could bring the power forward as much as $231 million.