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Gobert's suspension reminds Wolves fans of failed trade yet again

Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert. Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

Rudy Gobert's suspension reminds Timberwolves fans of failed trade yet again

By Victor Barbosa | Last updated 4/10/23

The Minnesota Timberwolves' season will essentially be on the line Tuesday night when they face the Los Angeles Lakers (43-39) in the Play-In Tournament.

Their major acquisition from last offseason — Rudy Gobert — will not be with the team, as he'll serve a one-game suspension after punching teammate Kyle Anderson during a timeout in the team's regular-season finale win on Sunday. The suspension was a decision made by the team and while the Wolves (42-40) will still have a chance to save their season in a second Play-In contest if they fall to the Lakers, Monday's news is yet another reminder of how much of a failed trade the pickup of Gobert was.

pic.twitter.com/beKWlYO3Ew
— FanDuel (@FanDuel) April 10, 2023

While the three-time Defensive Player of the Year's overall numbers in his first season with Minnesota still look gaudy, they're down across the board. Gobert's points per game (13.4) are his lowest in seven years, his rebounds per game (11.6) are his lowest in five years, his blocks per contest (1.4) are his lowest since he was rookie in 2014 and his 65.9% field goal percentage is his worst figure since 2018.

During the 29 games this season where franchise superstar Karl-Anthony Towns wasn't either injured or resting, he and Gobert failed to co-exist. When "KAT" was out, the longtime member of the Utah Jazz disappeared at times offensively and was unable to give ascending star Anthony Edwards a legitimate partner in crime.

Remarkably, in the 12 games that Gobert didn't play in the regular season, the Timberwolves had a better record (8-4) than when the three-time All-Star was in uniform (34-36).

Timberwolves win% this season:

.667 — Without Rudy Gobert
.486 — With Rudy Gobert pic.twitter.com/dlgDQuriqG
— StatMuse (@statmuse) April 10, 2023

Minnesota has been piling up embarrassing moments down the stretch. Just last week, they lost at home to the Portland Trail Blazers in the NBA's biggest upset in 30 years. One week later was a double dose of punch, as Gobert not only went for Anderson, but forward Jaden McDaniels suffered a season-ending hand fracture after punching a wall in the first quarter.

The Timberwolves had to suspend Gobert for throwing a punch, but accepted that it was a shot to chest with no intent to injure Kyle Anderson and understood that Anderson called Gobert a “bitch” repeatedly on a night Gobert was playing hurt, sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) April 10, 2023

Not only will the Timberwolves be without Gobert and McDaniels for Tuesday's contest against the Lakers, but also center Naz Reid, who recently went down with a season-ending wrist injury. Both McDaniels and Reid were having their best seasons in 2022-23.

The Lakers have been as hit or miss as any team in the NBA this season, but have seemingly gotten hot at the right time, having won nine of their final 11 regular season games. Without Gobert, McDaniels and Reid, LeBron James and Anthony Davis could have a field day against the Minnesota defense.

From there, the Timberwolves would potentially host the winner of Wednesday night's game between the ninth-seeded New Orleans Pelicans and 10th-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder in a do-or-die play-in game on Friday night.

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