After failing to meet expectations in the playoffs yet again, the Utah Jazz is reportedly looking to part ways with Rudy Gobert and build the roster around Donovan Mitchell, with the Warriors being one of the teams interested in Utah's All-Star center.
In an episode of The Hoop Collective podcast, Tim MacMahon and Brian Windhorst of ESPN claim that while this is still just a rumor, it is one that is being talked about amongst NBA circles.
When speaking about what's next for Utah after their first-round loss to the Dallas Mavericks, Windhorst believes that the franchise will try to trade the three-time Defensive Player of the Year with a potential trade centering around Andrew Wiggins.
“I have heard that rumor out there… I guess it would be based around Andrew Wiggins… I don’t know, Windhorst said. "If the Warriors win the title I don’t know if they’re looking for a major shake-up. But the Warriors don’t have that big and they have young players and they have the Wiggins contract. … I don’t think they should be considered a leader but I think that’s on the board. I’ve definitely heard that.”
While I'm sure head coach Steve Kerr would welcome a guy of Gobert's skillset on the squad, adding him to the roster would suggest that they have all but given up on former No. 2 pick James Wiseman who missed this entire past season following a torn meniscus.
We must also assume that if Utah wants to trade Gobert, Mitchell would have to be content with where the franchise is heading despite mutliple rumors that suggest otherwise.
Gobert has four years and $170 million left on his max contract extension (three years, then a player option) — which makes a trade a lot harder to find considering the money he's owed.
While Windhorst's assertion is just pure speculation at this point, how the Warriors fare in the playoffs will likely be the deciding factor in whether they want to keep the roster as-is or bring in an All-Star talent like Golbert. If they do, it certainly wouldn't be the first time Golden State pulled a move like this.
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