Rudy Gobert’s place in Minnesota is still secure for now, but the contract conversation around him is starting to drift into uncertain territory.
The Timberwolves center remains a foundational piece on defense, and his value hasn’t really changed since the trade that once drew heavy criticism. Four years into his run with Minnesota, Gobert has settled in as one of the most important players in the rotation, protecting the rim and helping the Wolves on the glass by piling up rebounds and extra possessions.
Even with that role intact, The Athletic’s Jon Krawczynski suggested on “The Jon Krawczynski Show” that extension talks are not moving with any real urgency. He said:
“He is eligible for an extension. So far, I have not heard any sort of real momentum toward that happening immediately here. I think it is something that the team will explore, that maybe Rudy would look at as well, as he gets a little, you know, as he gets older.”
Krawczynski also pointed to the kind of deal Minnesota could consider if the two sides do talk seriously.
“We saw his last extension; he brought his number down a little bit more to make it more manageable to have a good team around him. I would imagine that if there was something to be done, it would be another scenario like that where his number, I think, is at 31 or 33 million now, maybe comes down annually, but he gets a little bit more long-term security with a multi-year extension.”
Gobert’s most recent deal was a three-year, $109.5 million extension signed in 2024, after he had been playing on a five-year, $205 million contract. Before that extension, he declined a $46.7 million player option for the 2025-26 season, taking less money to help the Wolves put together a stronger roster.
That sacrifice has not made the contract picture any simpler. Gobert is on a $36.5 million deal that doesn’t line up perfectly with where Minnesota is headed, especially after the team made major moves this summer and shifted toward developing its young core around Anthony Edwards. Julius Randle and Naz Reid were among the players moved off, and at 34, Gobert does not fit neatly into that timeline.
For now, he has one year left on his contract, with a $38.0 million player option for the 2027-28 season waiting after that. Minnesota could be open to revisiting the numbers if it means more flexibility down the road, particularly with Joan Beringer’s emergence over the last season giving the front office a future-minded option to consider.
Still, the mood around Gobert in camp sounds upbeat. Krawczynski said:
“Most of the team has been in town since the start of September, and they’ve been working out daily together. Rudy Gobert just joined from France in the last four or five days.
People are really excited to see him, and I think that completes everyone being here. And I will tell you, I do not remember a time with covering this team where this many players were in this early playing, and they’ve been working out daily together.”
Gobert backed up his importance last season with averages of 10.9 points, 11.5 rebounds, 0.8 steals, and 1.6 blocks. Even without a clear extension update, Minnesota will keep leaning on him to anchor the interior and stabilize the defense.
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Timberwolves Face A Fascinating New Challenge With LaMelo Ball And Kuminga
Minnesotas offseason has already given Chris Finch a different kind of puzzle, and it starts with the way LaMelo Ball and Jonathan Kuminga can fit into the offense. Finch said in an interview that integrating new pieces should be less complicated than it has been in past seasons, thanks in part to Balls ability to organize the floor and the teams move toward a cleaner offensive structure. For a group trying to reset its identity, that kind of simplicity can matter as much as star power.
The other layer is internal growth, where Finch wants more steadiness from the younger and bench-heavy parts of the roster as camp approaches. Jaden McDaniels and Rudy Gobert were among the players he singled out for being part of that consistency push, which gives Minnesota a familiar sort of late-summer question: can the Wolves not only add talent, but also turn the whole rotation into something more reliable from night to night? [Read more 🡒]
Rudy Gobert Could Force The Wolves Into A Brutal Decision
The Timberwolves spent the offseason reshaping the roster around Rudy Gobert, making moves aimed at better fitting his game and their bigger-picture timeline. LaMelo Ball and Jonathan Kuminga arrived, while Julius Randle and Naz Reid were dealt away, all part of an effort to build a cleaner mix around the veteran center and keep Minnesota positioned to contend in the West.
Still, Goberts future does not feel fully settled. He has a player option on the final year of his contract, and what happens this season could leave the Wolves staring at a tough choice between bringing him back on another deal, preserving cap flexibility and continuing to balance his place with the growth of the rest of the roster. [Read more 🡒]
Wolves Are Taking A Risk With One Roster Decision
The Timberwolves are heading into training camp with a little more roster flexibility than certainty, and coach Chris Finch made clear that the final spot on the 15-man roster is not getting filled just to fill it. Rather than adding another veteran or bigger body right now, Minnesota is choosing to preserve its cap flexibility and leave itself room to maneuver as the season unfolds, a move that fits a front office that has shown a willingness to keep options open.
Finch said the team feels comfortable with the depth already in place, and that includes the ability to get creative if injuries force the issue. Trey Lyles is one name he highlighted as someone who could help in small-ball looks or even emergency center minutes if the Wolves get stretched thin behind Rudy Gobert or Joan Beringer, but the bigger message is that Minnesota would rather stay nimble than lock itself into a more crowded roster before camp even starts. [Read more 🡒]