(Basketball news) Rudy Gobert gets traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves as the Utah Jazz agreed to trade center in what was a blockbuster deal that will pair him with fellow All-Star big man Karl-Anthony Towns. According to Adrian Wojnarowski, the Timberwolves sent Malik Beasley, Patrick Beverley, Jarred Vanderbilt, Leandro Bolmaro and their No. 22 pick Walker Kessler along with four first-round picks to the Jazz. Utah will now acquire the unprotected picks in 2023, 2025 and 2027 and a top-five-protected pick in 2029, in what was Danny Ainge's first franchise-altering move since taking over as the Jazz's CEO this midseason.The Jazz have now gathered a total of six first-round picks in a span of 24hrs as they plan to retool the roster around their 25-year-old All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell. .
Gobert at the age of 30 has spent his entire nine-year NBA career in Utah, developing from a lanky boy who was drafted with the No. 27 pick in 2013 into a perennial All-Star who has become a franchise cornerstone for a team that has made six consecutive playoff appearances. The 7-foot Frenchman is one of the most decorated players in Utah Jazz history, he went on to win three Defensive Player of the Year awards, along with three All-Star appearances, four All-NBA selections and six first-team All-Defensive selections.
Gobert is subsequently entering the second season of a massive five-year contract of $205 million. This free agency Karl Anthony Towns also agreed to a four-year, $224 million supermax extension on Friday. The moment he was eligible he had a total commitment of $295 million over six years. Now with Gobert by his side, especially someone who averaged 15.6 points, a league-leading 14.7 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per game in 2021-22 will certainly form a towering line up. When a tumultuous Jazz season ended with a first-round exit at the hands of the Dallas Mavericks, Danny Ainge went into full rebuild mode.
Gobert wrote in a tweet, saying he "felt embraced and supported since day one. I've grown as a man and as a player before your very eyes and I'm thankful [for] every single moment. Utah and its community will always have a special place in my heart. Thank you! The journey continues…"
In another massive trade, San Antonio Spurs pushed their rebuild into full swing as they traded for All-Star guard Dejounte Murray to the Atlanta Hawks for forward Danilo Gallinari and a trio of first-round picks. The full deal was announced by the teams as Hawks received Dejounte Murray, Jock Landale whereas the Spurs received Danilo Gallinari, 2023 first-round pick (via Charlotte from New York, protected), 2025 first-round pick, 2026 pick swap, 2027 first-round pick. According to Wojnarowski, Spurs are expected to waive Gallinari who has since go onto sign with the Boston Celtics in free agency
For Atlanta, the goal of strengthening a backcourt already led by All-NBA guard Trae Young, who last season finished sixth in the league in scoring charts when he averaged 28.4 points per game, have now added a dynamic young point guard who is coming off his best season as a pro. The 29th pick of the 2016 NBA Draft, Murray, earned his first All-Star appearance in 2021-22, when went on to average a career-high 21.1 points to go with 9.2 assists, 8.3 rebounds and 2.0 steals. The six-year veteran instantly upgrades Atlanta’s backcourt on the defensive end as the rangy point guard earned a place in the NBA All-Defensive 2nd Team honors in just his second season (2017-18).
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