Rudy Gobert reads the comments on Twitter, so he’s aware that Minnesota fans didn’t like him much during his first nine NBA seasons.
He also heard that Timberwolves coach Chris Finch constantly complained about the way he blocked opposing defenders.
That will possibly change.
“Now we’re on the same side, I’m excited,” Gobert said.
So are the Wolves, with good reason. They announced the acquisition of Gobert at a news conference in Minneapolis on Wednesday, when they were finally able to make the trade deal with the Utah Jazz official.
Getting the French center required four players, five first-round picks — including one made last month — and the option to trade another pick. Still the Timberwolves believe they won with this change.
“We think it’s a great fit with what we already do,” Finch acknowledged.
In a league where positions have stopped making as much sense and the outside game reigns supreme, the Timberwolves have two of the best big men in the lineup. Gobert, a three-time Defensive Player of the Year, will play alongside Karl-Anthony Towns.
“He doesn’t inhibit any of the tools that we already have,” said Tim Connelly, president of team operations. “He makes them better.”
The Utah-Minnesota trade was finalized Wednesday, shortly after the NBA’s moratorium on offseason trades and signings was lifted.
Most of the agreements were reached last week, but were made official on Wednesday because they could not be completed until the moratorium period ended.
This is the case of Ja Morant with Memphis and Zion Williamson with New Orleans, two rookie contract extensions worth at least $193 million over five seasons starting in 2023.
Also Bradley Beal signed a new contract with Washington for five years and a value of 251 million dollars.
The deal between Utah and Minnesota went like this: Gobert to the Timberwolves for Patrick Beverley, Malik Beasley, Jarred Vanderbilt, Leandro Bolmaro and the rights to newly selected Walker Kessler, as well as Minnesota’s first-round picks in 2023, 2025 , 2027 and 2029 and a first-round trade in 2026.
Jazz owner Ryan Smith said Gobert will “always be a part of us.”
Last month the Jazz saw coach Quin Snyder depart after eight seasons and the arrival of former Boston and San Antonio assistant Will Hardy to replace him. Then came the Gobert trade that ended an era in Utah.
No team in the Western Conference has won more regular-season matchups in those seasons, but the success never carried over to the playoffs.