The Timberwolves now sit at 13-4, the current #1 seed in the Western Conference, almost 1/4 through the season.
Rudy Gobert defensive rating: 102.3 (#1 in the league)
KAT defensive rating: 104 (#2 in the league this year / averaged 109 historically)
Timberwolves: 106.6 (#1 in the league)
If they make the finals this year; are we still saying it was an overpay?
Jon K (Wolves beat reporter) said they did consider other options and stopped talking to Utah since they kept demanding McDaniels was in the trade package.
They looked at other candidates and had other trade talks but kept coming back to Gobert. Then it was a “well what are we waiting for? This is the exact guy we need”. So they were like “whatever, here’s 2 extra picks but we keep McDaniels.” Don’t know how much more patient you can be because Utah would have just kept Gobert.
This is my opinion too. Utah wasn’t going to let him go without an “overpay.” Minnesota knew they were “overpaying.” It was a matter of believing in your move and paying the asking price.
In other words, it may be above market value, but they aren’t stupid and didn’t get duped. They knew what they were doing. Only time will tell if they were right.