A trade for Giannis may not be in the cards, but the Celtics could build an intimidating defense around Rudy Gobert.
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Even if the Celtics don’t trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo this summer, there’s reason to believe Brad Stevens will be aggressive on the trade market to reshape the team. Regardless of what else they do, there’s a strong sentiment out there that Boston needs to improve at the center position. A stretch-big who can protect the rim would be optimal, but those guys don’t really exist on the market.
One player who may be available, and has perhaps even become a bit underrated, is Rudy Gobert of the Timberwolves. Rudy is one of the best defensive players of all time and can single-handedly anchor an elite defense, as he did in Utah for years before doing so again in Minnesota.
But after a second-round exit, the Wolves are looking to change things up, and that may mean parting with the four-time Defensive Player of the Year. This goes along with recent reports that the Wolves are interested in Derrick White and that the Celtics are interested in Gobert.
Parting with White would leave the Celtics without their best defensive player, but if it were a deal for Gobert, that may be one of the few possible upgrades in the entire league. A one-for-one swap works money-wise, and in the sense that the Wolves badly need a guard to take away some responsibilities from Anthony Edwards and the Celtics need a center, this deal could have some legs.
Celtics defense would be scary with Rudy Gobert manning the back line
In Gobert, Boston would be getting arguably the best defender in the world outside of Victor Wembanyama. He would slot in with Jayson Tatum and other strong perimeter defenders and be able to anchor the back line and clean up the glass. With Neemias Queta transitioning into a super-sub role, the Celtics should have 48 minutes a night of elite defensive play from the center position.
The offense is the concern for Rudy, but he is an elite screen setter and would create absurd driving lanes for the Jays and Payton Pritchard. Brad Stevens preached the desire to add rim pressure, and while Gobert won’t do that as a ball-handler, he can provide that in spades with his screening and rim-running.
Boston would certainly need to add to the backcourt after sending White away for a big man, but they could use their trade exceptions and mid-level exception on that front. Plus, having a presence in the back like Rudy would give the Cs more wiggle room to add offense-first guards.
This deal is far from a no-brainer, but it’s the kind of shake-up that may be needed for both sides. Other holes would need to be filled, but Boston would almost assuredly boast one of the league’s best defenses for the foreseeable future.
- Ben Handler
