On Friday, less than 24 hours into free agency the Minnesota Timberwolves executed one of the biggest trades in their history to take Rudy Gobert from the Utah Jazz.

• Utah receiving- Malik Beasley, Patrick Beverley, Jarred Vanderbilt, Leandro Bolmaro, no.22 pick Walker Kessler, unprotected 1st round picks in 2023, 2025 & 2027 & a top 5 protected pick in 2029
• Minnesota receiving- Rudy Gobert

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Most fans and pundits believe that the Timberwolves way overpaid for a player who's value is at an all-time low but the 3x Defensive Player of the Year plugs a huge hole in the Minnesota team and can help take them back to the playoffs in 2023 and beyond.

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3 things Gobert brings to the Timberwolves:

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1. ‍Rebounding

Rudy Gobert is one of, if not the best rebounder in basketball. He led the league in rebounds per game in 2021/22 with 14.7, and over the past four seasons he averages 13.7 rebounds per game.

Rebounding proved a real problem for Minnesota in the playoffs as the Memphis Grizzlies took advantage on the offensive glass, the addition of Gobert will prevent every team from doing the same again.

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2. Elite pick & roll play

Gobert is not the modern big man that offers floor spacing and dominates the offense. He is a more traditional big man, who dominates the paint and offers an elite pick and roll threat.

The 30 year old is one of the most efficient scorers in the league, leading the NBA in field goal percentage in three of the last four seasons, including 2021/22 where he shot 71.4% from the field.

D'Angelo Russell is the type of point guard that will thrive playing alongside an elite roll and lob threat. So, Gobert will help take the point guards game to new heights and add an extra, near undefendable, aspect to his game.

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3. Defense

Rudy Gobert is a 3x Defensive Player of the Year, winning the award in three of the last five seasons. He has been named to the All Defensive first team in each of the past six seasons. Averaging 2.2 blocks per game over the past four seasons.

He is the defensive anchor that the Minnesota Timberwolves have been crying out for since Kevin Garnett. He will cover up for some of the defensive flaws in both Karl Anthony Towns & Anthony Edwards' games.

While he and KAT together will make the Timberwolves rim nearly impenetrable, something Ja Morant and the Grizzlies took full advantage of in the 2022 playoffs.

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Yes the Minnesota Timberwolves gave up a lot of their future to make this deal happen. But this is the Minnesota Timberwolves after all, they are not going to attract the top free agents and maybe they did overpay for Gobert but the Western Conference is ever improving and the Timberwolves do not want to be left behind after reaching the playoffs in 2022.

Adding Gobert looks like a win now move, despite this being a very young team with Anthony Edwards still only 20 years old but he is entering his third season and Minnesota are expecting a big jump.

In a competitive market the Timberwolves did what they had to do to improve their team and Gobert can and will make a difference, in both the regular season and the playoffs!

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(Photo- Rob Gray-USA TODAY Sports)