The Minnesota Timberwolves extended Karl-Anthony Towns, so that he’s locked up for the next six years. To top that, they have now traded for Utah Jazz center and former Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert.
Gobert and the Jazz, especially star guard Donovan Mitchell, have had a falling out that seems like it can almost be traced back to the start of COVID-19. Their first-round playoff exit did that relationship no favors.
On the flip side, the Wolves are just a few pieces from title contention, and they clearly view trading for Gobert as a move that will increase those odds.