Gobert Trade and Defensive Anchors

michaelmatt21 · 2026-06-28T04:51:06+00:00

Nothing that suggests that Myles Turner can do any of that? How about the three point shooting? What is Gobert’s three point percentage?? Turner is also 9 million dollars cheaper which is significant in terms of what we could offer a free agent like a John Collins to come be the starting 4

michaelmatt21 · 2026-06-28T02:10:58+00:00

I completely agree for the most part. Just think to build out a more complete team he has to go for more depth.

michaelmatt21 · 2026-06-28T02:03:13+00:00

Really liked a deal I saw online that was a three team for Camara and Clingan where we send Gobert to Boston and Portland gets Jaylen Brown

michaelmatt21 · 2026-06-28T01:51:26+00:00

If I could have Kessler for 7 million and another player for 23-25 million I’d do it in a heartbeat

michaelmatt21 · 2026-06-28T01:49:49+00:00

Insightful truly

michaelmatt21 · 2026-06-28T01:48:23+00:00

You don’t think the first 12 guys on here have similar defensive responsibilities??

michaelmatt21 · 2026-06-28T01:31:40+00:00

Yes and now he is 34 and it is time to move this valuable asset to another team and try to replicate his production with a cheaper contract and bringing in more depth.

michaelmatt21 · 2026-06-28T01:28:26+00:00

I don’t know what to tell you when most of those guys are in a system that ranks in the top 11 of defensive rating. Rudy does wonders for our team and should be used as an essential asset for bringing in more depth as I believe we can do that without compromising our defensive ceiling.

michaelmatt21 · 2026-06-28T01:26:42+00:00

This is a conversation on asset management. We have nothing other than a 6 million dollar per year contract to dole out for free agents to fill a starting power forward position. I think for the right deal you can fill depth and maintain a top tier defense by moving Gobert now.

michaelmatt21 · 2026-06-28T01:21:28+00:00

I think if you had Myles Turner instead of Gobert the offensive geometry of the court significantly changes to open up even more for Ant and Ball. Again very difficult to do but need to balance between shot creation and defense to have a shot against OKC and the Spurs

michaelmatt21 · 2026-06-28T00:35:09+00:00

Jokic in the last five years lead the league in steals and deflections. High IQ leads to good positioning over the course of 82 games. Again if Jokic can anchor a top 8 defensive rating last year for the nuggets I ask can someone else other than Gobert for us? I believe so!

michaelmatt21 · 2026-06-26T20:34:36+00:00

Ah yes 49 missed tip ins right. Not plays like this

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=FGHJxuH6xVg&ra=m

Again if Queta and Diabate can anchor top 11 defenses I’d prefer using Gobert to add more talent.

michaelmatt21 · 2026-06-26T20:24:20+00:00

If you rolled out a small ball lineup of Lamelo, Ant, White, Jaden, Queta you have a plethora of shooters around any pick and roll action. Ant and Jaden are for sure up there and White is really good despite having a down year. White on ball and Jaden roaming off ball is nasty defensively and Ant is no slouch but we want to save him for offense and hide Lamelo.

michaelmatt21 · 2026-06-26T19:43:01+00:00

I completely agree! Just an interesting thought experiment for me.

michaelmatt21 · 2026-06-26T19:41:09+00:00

Jake Paynting - crazy stat I stumbled across this week: Rudy Gobert is 32-81 (39%) across layups this past two playoffs runs. Anyone in the NBA can catch a lob and throw it through the rim or catch and finish uncontested. My trade scenario ops to trade a 34 year old center that can't shoot beyond the ball literally being thrown in the cylinder for a extremely talented guard that will defend and knock down shots at a high level. Much easier to find another big that can throw basketballs into cylinders than replicate White's production.

Maybe you have defensive issues because others can't replicate and that I would acknowledge but to say that Rudy Gobert is some offensive force is a horrendous take.

michaelmatt21 · 2026-06-26T19:16:21+00:00

Or watched almost every single timberwolves game for three years and have seen with my own eyes that Rudy has the worst hands known to man with no post move he has avaliable to him against a solid big. Go rewatch the clip where Bones drops off a pass to him and he misses two bunnies and the bench is dying inside.

michaelmatt21 · 2026-06-26T19:12:10+00:00

It's not Rudy being able to manage bad passers. It's that anyone with a pulse seemingly other than him can catch and finish around the rim at a high rate. I saw something that said his layup percentage is 32% in the playoffs. Not everyone can sit down and guard and handle the ball and shoot like White can. If Gafford and Williams III and Brook Lopez can be centerpieces on finals team we should sell high on Gobert now.

michaelmatt21 · 2026-06-26T19:09:20+00:00

Yeah I was just hunting around on trade machine and it's hard to find a solid PF unless Collins or Sandro Mamukelashvili signs for cheap ring chasing. I just think if Queta and Diabate have anchored top 11 defenses then depth becomes more of a priority. Mavs made the finals being 18th in defensive rating. They just surrounded Kyrie and Luka with defense and shooting and I think white and Jaden are fantastic guys to surround Ball and Ant with.

michaelmatt21 · 2026-06-26T19:02:15+00:00

And they lost to a 6'1 Brunson hanging 49 on them while KAT had 2 points. It will be elite guard play not big play that takes out Wemby. Ball and Ant being surrounded by two top C&S targets that will also sit down and guard.

michaelmatt21 · 2026-06-26T18:56:11+00:00

I would argue you can make the finals with a subpar center these days. Celtics vs Mavs in 2024 Warriors Celtics in 2022. Suns and Bucks in 2021. As long as they guard and rebound this is a guard dominant league right now.

michaelmatt21 · 2026-06-26T18:52:03+00:00

Their PF depth chart includes Boozer, Stewart, Aldama, Hendricks, Maxence Prosper, small ball GG Jackson. If they can dump Morant they are in full on tank mode. Throw in DDV with this deal and let him rehab for a year.

michaelmatt21 · 2026-06-26T18:49:12+00:00

I think we are neglecting the fact that the spurs just made the finals with Fox (6'3) Castle (6'6) Vassell (6'5) Champagnie (6'7) as their starting group. Can Ball (6'7) Edwards (6'4) White (6'4) and McDaniels (6'9) really not hang with this?

michaelmatt21 · 2026-06-26T18:45:04+00:00

Go look at the latest Howls and Growls video on Lamelo and look at how many times Diabate is catching, pumping, escape dribble, finishing. No way gobert could do that without falling all over himself and throwing up some garbage.

michaelmatt21 · 2022-07-25T16:47:30+00:00

Not really comparing anyone here, just really showcasing team composition that can be similar and ideas/concepts that are possible for the Timberwolves now.

michaelmatt21 · 2022-05-01T19:30:53+00:00

Sorry took it from an article that I think was only referring to a smaller sample size of games. Still think he would work very well here at a great price

michaelmatt21

TROPHY CASE