The starting lineup is rounded out by point guard D’Angelo Russell and Jaden McDaniels. Edwards averaged 21.3 PPG in his second season and was even more dangerous in six playoff games (25.2 PPG). There were doubts about Edwards when he was chosen with the first overall pick in 2020 but he has been an offensive force since the second half of his rookie campaign. He has finished as a top-20 scorer in five of his seven NBA seasons.

Towns is one of the league’s most prolific scorers, as he displayed in his 60-point game in March. The Timberwolves now have their own Big Three in Karl-Anthony Towns, Anthony Edwards and Gobert. Gobert is also a prolific rebounder - he led the league in that category last season - and one of the NBA’s top shot-blockers.īy surrendering so many assets, Minnesota essentially took an “all-in” approach, viewing Gobert as the missing piece to a title contender. The three-time Defensive Player of the Year will provide an imposing presence it has lacked at that end of the floor. Minnesota led the NBA last season with a 115.9 point average but ranked 24th in points allowed (113.3) and 16th in defensive field goal percentage (46.0%). Of course, Minnesota didn’t acquire Gobert for his offensive skills. All but one of those picks are unprotected. The haul that the Jazz received for Rudy Gobert included Malik Beasley, Patrick Beverley, Jarred Vanderbilt, Leandro Bolmaro, 2022 first-round pick Walker Kessler, and four future first-rounders. A big reason why Kevin Durant wasn’t traded and Donovan Mitchell remains on Utah’s roster is that the Timberwolves gave up multiple rotation pieces and first-round picks for a player who’s averaged 12.4 points in his career.

One piece filler percentage