The Minnesota Timberwolves went all-in last summer. They’re one game from finding themselves all out of the postseason.
Last summer, Minnesota gave up a huge package of players and picks for 30-year-old center Rudy Gobert, the three-time Defensive Player of the Year. Four first-round picks, one pick swap and five players went from Minnesota to Utah, including 2022 first-round center Walker Kessler.
At the time, president of basketball operations Tim Connelly said, “We felt like we took a huge step forward with the acquisition of Rudy.” But the team’s record took a small step back, dropping from 46-36 to 42-40.
That’s not all Gobert’s fault. All-Star Karl-Anthony Towns was supposed to form a 1-2 punch in the frontcourt with Gobert, but he ended up playing only 29 games. D’Angelo Russell didn’t mesh with Gobert, so Minnesota traded him for Mike Conley at the trade deadline. The team’s defensive rating improved from 13th in the league to 10th, but in offensive rating, they dropped from eighth to 23rd.
What was Gobert’s fault was punching teammate Kyle Anderson in the season’s final game and getting suspended for the play-in game against the Los Angeles Lakers.
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