Wolves announce Gobert trade, introduce him Wednesday afternoon
[anvplayer video=”5120385″ station=”998122″]
It’s official: the Minnesota Timberwolves have acquired Rudy Gobert.
The team officially announced the blockbuster trade with the Utah Jazz on Wednesday morning. The trade was initially reported Friday afternoon.
RELATED: Timberwolves acquire Rudy Gobert in blockbuster trade
Wednesday afternoon, the team formally introduced Gobert, and the newest member of the Timberwolves, alongside President of Basketball Operations Tim Connelly and Head Coach Chris Finch answered questions about the move.
Since it was first reported Friday afternoon, the trade has been widely debated by members of the NBA media.
The Timberwolves sent the Jazz guards Malik Beasley and Patrick Beverley, forward Jarred Vanderbilt, former first-round pick Leandro Bolmaro, 2022 first-round pick Walker Kessler, future first-round draft picks in 2023, 2025, 2027 and a top-five protected pick in 2029, as well as a first-round pick swap in 2026.
Rudy Gobert (center) is announced as the newest member of the Minnesota Timberwolves on July 6, 2022, sitting next to President of Basketball Operations Tim Connelly (left) and Head Coach Chris Finch (right). (Alec Ausmus/KSTP)
Click the video box below to hear extended comments from Tim Connelly and Chris Finch following the press conference
[anvplayer video=”5120459″ station=”998122″]
In exchange, the Wolves are getting a three-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year and the league’s leading rebounder last year to pair with star Karl-Anthony Towns and ascending young talents in Anthony Edwards and Jaden McDaniels as the organization looks to build on last year’s playoff berth that ended in a first-round exit at the hands of the Memphis Grizzlies.
Beverley played 58 games for the Wolves last season and averaged 9.2 points, 4.1 rebounds and 4.6 assists per game.
Beasley played in 130 games for the Wolves after he was acquired from the Denver Nuggets in 2020, averaging 15.1 points, 3.5 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game.
Vanderbilt played in 140 games since being acquired in the same trade from Denver with Beasley and averaged 6.1 points, 7.1 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game.
Bolmaro played in 35 games last season for Minnesota, averaging 1.4 points and 1.2 rebounds per game.
Kessler averaged 11.4 points, 8.1 rebounds and 4.6 blocks per game at Auburn last year.