Report: Rudy Gobert traded to Timberwolves for four first-round picks, Beverley, Beasley more

Since he took over the front office in Minnesota, the buzz around league circles has been Tim Connelly wanted to lean into size and add a defensive big man to play next to Karl-Anthony Towns, someone who could solidify Towns’ weakness and let him focus on his immense strength — scoring the basketball.

Enter Rudy Gobert.

Utah is trading Rudy Gobert to Minnesota, sources tell ESPN.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 1, 2022

How badly did Connelly want Gobert? Enough to overpay.

The Timberwolves are sending Malik Beasley, Patrick Beverley, Walker Kessler, Jarred Vanderbilt and multiple first-round picks for Gobert, sources tell ESPN.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 1, 2022

The Jazz are landing four Minnesota first-round picks and 2022 first-round pick Walker Kessler in the deal for Rudy Gobert, source tells ESPN.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 1, 2022

Those picks are the overpay — four of them, and they are barely protected. That’s a Harden-level pick package.

The picks going to Utah, per sources: unprotected 1sts in 23, 25, 27, a swap in ‘26 and a top 5 protected in ‘29

— Jon Krawczynski (@JonKrawczynski) July 1, 2022

There is a lot to unpack here.

• Gobert makes the Timberwolves better. Fans tend to downplay him and his skillset, but he is an elite defender who improves Minnesota’s middle-of-the-pack defense, plus he can finish around the rim and make some passes. There are good reasons for the Timberwolves to try Gobert next to Towns.

• The question is the price tag. Why did Minnesota give up so much? Who were they bidding against that drove up the pick package that high? The Timberwolves’ argument is that when they win those are late first-round picks and not that valuable, and they have two elite bigs plus