The Utah Jazz are sending center Rudy Gobert to the Minnesota Timberwolves in exchange for Malik Beasley, Patrick Beverly, Walker Kessler, Jared Vanderbilt and multiple first-round picks, ESPN reported Friday.
The Timberwolves will be sending their 2023, 2025 and 2027 first-round picks to the Jazz, all of which are unprotected. Utah will also receive a top-5 2029 protected pick. Gobert averaged 15.6 points, 14.7 rebounds and 2.1 blocks last season and has been named an All-Star in each of the least three seasons. He has spent the entirety of his career with the Jazz after being drafted by them in the first round in 2013, appearing in 611 games (519 starts) while averaging 12.4 points and 11.7 rebounds.
The 7-foot-1 Gobert is also a three-time Defensive Player of the Year. Gobert, who turned 30 on Sunday, also led the NBA in rebounding this past season.
The move comes after Gobert’s relationship with star guard Donovan Mitchell continued to grow testy last season.
Steep Cost for T-WolvesBeasley became a vital part of the Minnesota’s bench this past season, averaging 12.1 points and 2.9 rebounds while shooting 37.7 percent from 3-point range. Beverly played in 58 games (54 starts) in his lone season with the Timberwolves and averaged 9.2 points, 4.6 assists and 4.1 rebounds.
Vanderbilt solidified his role as a starter during the 2021-22 campaign, starting 67 of the 74 games he appeared in. He averaged 6.9 points and 8.4 rebounds while shooting 58.7 percent from the field.
Kessler was selected with the 22nd overall pick of this year’s draft after averaging 11.4 points, 8.1 rebounds and 4.6 blocks this past season at Auburn.
Forward Leandro Balmero is also being sent to the Jazz as part of the deal after one season with Minnesota. He played in 35 games (two starts) and averaged 1.4 points.
–Field Level Media ()