The blockbuster deal that sent Rudy Gobert to the Minnesota Timberwolves truly made the league and the transactional market tremble this offseason.
As such, this even made league circles believe that it affected the Brooklyn Nets’ desires to ship away the then-embattled Kevin Durant (h/t HoopsHype’s Mike Scotto).
Numerous NBA executives who spoke with HoopsHype believe the Gobert trade made it harder for Durant to be moved. The draft pick compensation Utah received from Minnesota was considered such a lopsided haul for Utah around the league that if the Nets got anything less than that for Durant, Brooklyn’s front office would’ve looked foolish, according to numerous rival executives.
Other than key players, the T-Wolves shockingly sent a lucrative four future first-round picks in order to gain Gobert, making themselves a formidable contender in the upcoming season.
This sacrifice made by Minnesota indeed truly affected the horizon of asking price for the All-stars. It is notable that Jazz GM Danny Ainge is keen on his desire to gain a much better return for Donovan Mitchell, who is now being shopped in the marketplace and linked to the New York Knicks. Meanwhile, Brooklyn was seeking a historical haul to part ways with Durant.
As such, with no talks and potential deals completed, Durant chose to reignite his commitment with the Nets – closing a roller coaster saga filled by drama.
