According to what Adrian Wojnarowski reports fromESPNthe Utah Jazz have reportedly traded star center Rudy Gobert to the Minnesota Timberwolves.
In return, the Jazz get guards Malik Beasley and Patrick Beverley, wingers Walker Kessler, Jarred Vanderbilt and Leandro Bolmaro and several first-round picks. Minnesota is giving up its 2023, 2025 and 2027 first-round picks unprotected as well as the 2029 pick that will be protected if it’s in the top-5.
Gobert will form a powerhouse duo with team leader Karl-Anthony Towns, who is tied to the Timberwolves for the next six seasons following his four-year, $224 million contract extension. signed Thursday.
Gobert, 30, wore the Jazz uniform for the first nine seasons of his career. He was named the NBA’s best defensive player three times. The Frenchman averaged 15.6 points, 14.7 rebounds and 2.1 blocks last season. He led the league with a .713 field goal percentage. Gobert is under contract until the end of the 2025-2026 season.
Beasley had a tough second full season with the Timberwolves last year, averaging 12.1 points per game on just .391 from the floor after averaging 19.6 the previous season.
Beverley, a veteran defensive specialist who turns 34 on July 12, had 9.2 points, 4.6 assists, 4.1 rebounds, 1.2 steals and 0.9 blocks per game last year in his single season in Minnesota.
Kessler was selected 22nd overall in the last draft.
Vanderbilt, 23, was used as a starter in 67 of 74 games he played last year, amassing 6.9 points, 8.4 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game.
Bolmaro, a 21-year-old Argentinian, played 35 games with limited playing time in his first season in the NBA last year.
