The Perils Of Dealing For Rudy Gobert

The犹他州爵士乐appear to be at the same impasse thePortland Trail Blazersfound themselves at late last calendar year. Carrying a bloated payroll, unable to advance beyond the second round of the playoffs over the past five years, a change is almost certainly gonna come.

TheDallas Mavericks’ convincing 4-2 first round win over the Jazz last week may have brought the situation to a boiling point for the Salt Lake City franchise. Next season, Utah stars Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert will collectively earn almost $70 million with Mike Conley and Bojan Bogdanovic making up another $41 million.

On top of the financial restraints, it’s the relationship between Mitchell and Gobert that is likely edging Utah’s front office closer to the end. From the infamous 2020 press conferenceat the beginning of the COVID pandemic由于最近缺乏场上的融洽关系（米切尔似乎对戈伯特不感兴趣），看来这种关系已经实现了。

本周早些时候，Siriusxm电台主持人Sean O’Connell还建议这位高耸的法国人准备向新的前台主管丹尼·奥吉（Danny Ainge）提供最后通atum，暗示他could no longer co-exist with Mitchell.

If true, you’d imagine Ainge would be trying to do everything to ensure it was Mitchell that stayed in Utah, not just because of his talent, but also his age. At 25, the franchise still has time to rebuild around the athletic guard who is contracted until the age of 29 — the final season does include a player option — when he’ll be earning a non-ridiculous $37 million.

另一方面，戈伯特（Gobert）目前为29岁，但收入为4000万美元，直到他33岁。他的最后一年（还包括球员选项）将使他带回家超过4600万美元。

但是我们不应该忘记，在7'1时，戈伯特（Gobert）仍然是这个联盟有史以来最敏捷，最有效的大个子之一。戈伯特（Gobert）是今年三届最佳防守球员，三届全明星和全NBA第二阵容获奖者，仍然是联赛前三名的防守。

Throughout his nine-year career, all with the Jazz, Gobert has averaged 15.6 points, 11.7 rebounds, 1.3 assists and a dominant 2.2 blocks.

波特兰的资产

The Blazers made three trades at February’s trade deadline, to clear cap space and bring in young players and assets.

临时总经理乔·克罗宁（Joe Cronin）现在拥有多种工具，今年夏天可以使用。即，尚未尚未众所周知的2022彩票挑选，一个Milwaukee Bucks2025 first round pick, a series of second round picks and traded player exceptions, including one valued at around $20 million yielded in theNew Orleans Pelicanstrade.

What would the Blazers need to give up?

If the Blazers were interested, they’d have to find a way to account for the $38 million owed to Gobert next season. Yes, the trade exceptions make it easier but there’s still a mountain to climb.

我不会再涉及埃里克·布莱索（Eric Bledsoe）的合同的技术，所以请随时刷新您的记忆力这里。最终，贸易BLEDSOE（鉴于其2022-23合同的部分保证）意味着：

离开波特兰的布莱索（Bledsoe）价值390万美元，需要获得相同的款项。但是，到达上述新目的地的布莱索（Bledsoe）将构成该团队的薪金中的近2000万美元。

因此，让我们建议布莱索，乔什·哈特，特拉森·沃特福德，今年的第二轮选秀权和密尔沃基雄鹿队的第一轮选秀权。我敢肯定，爵士乐也将想要今年的彩票选秀权，但让我们将其用作跳跃点。

It would hurt parting with Hart’s flexibility and Watford’s youth and consistency but in order to bring in a player like Gobert, regardless of how expensive he may be, the Blazers will have to give up something of value.

How would this impact the roster?

还有Jusuf Nurkic的问题。出于各种意图和目的，鉴于他默许在本赛季的最后几个月中，无限制的自由球员似乎将于今年夏天返回波特兰。

即使开拓者队为戈伯特（Gobert）戏剧，他们仍然可以在今年夏天签名和交易Nurkic，或者坚持到2023年的截止日期，因为担心让他无所事事。

It’s unlikely the Bosnian big man gets more elsewhere anyway given the bird rights the Blazers have to retain him. And the return for Nurkic may also help the Blazers fill the existing voids at the two starting forward positions.

Does it makes sense?

Two very difference schools of thought here.

On one hand, you could say yes. The Blazers have been one of the league’s most defensively flawed teams over the past seven years. Bringing in a perennial Defensive Player of the Year candidate, elite pick and roll defender and rim protector elevates this roster to defensive heights it hasn’t seen in a long time. He's a phenomenal rebounder and finisher and boasts relatively impressive lateral movement for someone his size. All of this is complemented by stunningly natural defensive instincts.

但是另一个，稍微占主导地位的本能，拒绝。在进攻端，戈伯特（Gobert）不能像塔斯马尼亚魔鬼（Tasmanian Devil）那样罕见的三分球偏离篮筐太远 - 是的，他们是真实的。甚至非爵士乐迷都会在将球放在地板上时畏缩。

He takes almost 79 percent of his shots within three feet, so spacing would be atrocious, particularly when you have players like Lillard, Anfernee Simons and Josh Hart trying to get to the rim. He's effective in the pick and roll but not sure that's enough to compensate for all his warts on that side of the floor.

结论

自拉马库斯·奥尔德里奇（Lamarcus Aldridge）以来，戈伯特（Gobert）将是利拉德（Lillard）的第一位全明星，更不用说最好的后卫。我不记得开拓者上一次拥有戈伯特（Gobert）能力的球员，能够锚定防守，尤其是当您考虑到Lillard和Simons拥有的防守缺陷时。

还有Nurkic problem, however this should be able to be resolved relatively quickly, either via a sign and trade or a deadline move.

您可能会说我这样说，但老实说，我不认为Gobert是这个团队所需要的。尽管他可能在中心位置是一个荒谬的升级，但他的华丽合同和受限技能可能会将西装外套锁定在可能限制其争夺之路的事物中。

I’m not totally against it, but there’s probably cheaper and better fits out there.