Golden State Warriors could make deal for Rudy Gobert

With turmoil growing in Utah, the Golden State Warriors could look to make a push for Defensive Player of the Year, Rudy Gobert.

Reports have been leaking that the relationship between Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert is beyond fixing due to Gobert’s carelessness regarding the COVID-19 pandemic that led to both him and Mitchell contracting the virus. With trade rumors emerging, the Golden State Warriors are a surprising candidate to snag Gobert.

Firstly, let’s establish that if the Utah Jazz decides to trade anybody it will be Gobert and not Mitchell. It’s pretty simple, Mitchell is a blooming superstar averaging nearly 25 points per game while Gobert is elite on only one end of the floor.

Still, Gobert is a gifted defender and would be of great use to the Warriors’ interior defense. This season, Gobert is averaging 15.1 points, 13.7 rebounds and 2.0 blocks per game. The Dubs would love to add the two-time Defensive Player of the Year and they might just have enough to acquire him.

The Warriors are slotted to have a top-five pick in the 2020 NBA Draft and will also likely have a lottery pick next season as well due to their trade with the Minnesota Timberwolves. These two picks could help get a potential deal done.

However, with Gobert’s $25 million dollars a year contract, the Warriors would have to sacrifice one of their top players as well. Andrew Wiggins or Draymond Green seems like the obvious answers but it’s unclear if swapping one of these players for Gobert would truly help the Warriors or not.

The Dubs have thrived off of being versatile throughout the years. Gobert is great but one thing he is not is versatile. He has been played off of the floor in the NBA Playoffs due to his inability to defend the perimeter and his restrictions on offense as a poor shooter.

These are potential problems the Warriors can’t afford next season with a title on the line. Although Gobert may be available to the Dubs, he doesn’t seem worth the price.