With Minnesota leaning harder than ever into an offense-first build after adding LaMelo Ball and Jonathan Kuminga, Rudy Gobert is suddenly staring at a bigger load on the other end. The Timberwolves will need him to anchor the defense almost every night, and that means covering for Ball as much as possible.
Joan Beringer, Gobert’s backup, doesn’t bring the same level of proof that Naz Reid did last season, so Minnesota is counting on Gobert to give them Defensive Player of the Year-level production as often as he can. That part, at least, doesn’t sound like the real concern.
The bigger question is whether Ball can finally make Gobert a real offensive weapon.
That’s been the missing piece in Minnesota ever since Gobert arrived. Mike Conley gave him a solid connection and some dependable setup work, but Conley’s own limitations on offense kept him from functioning as the kind of elite creator who can consistently manufacture easy baskets at the rim. Gobert has never really had that sort of playmaker beside him in Minnesota.
Ball changes the equation. He’s been one of the league’s top passers since his rookie season, and he’s always been at his best feeding lob threats.
Last season, he made Moussa Diabate look dangerous at times, and his chemistry with Miles Bridges was excellent. If he could turn Diabate into a legitimate offensive factor, it’s fair to expect he can do something similar with Gobert.
Fair, but not guaranteed - especially with Gobert turning 34 this summer.
And that matters more in the playoffs than anywhere else.
Gobert doesn’t have to carry the offense, but he can’t be a dead end either. Minnesota has already run into too many postseason walls, and while Gobert isn’t near the top of that list of problems, his production still needs to improve.
Against elite interior defenses like Oklahoma City and San Antonio, the Wolves have seen him get bottled up or ignored altogether. He averaged just 6.7 points against the Spurs this past playoffs and 5.1 points against the Thunder in 2025.
Those defenses understood the same thing: Minnesota didn’t have the personnel to set Gobert up, and he wasn’t going to create those looks on his own.
That should look different now. If Ball can put Gobert in position to punish defenses, the Wolves may finally have another way to crack the playoff ceiling that has held them back for the last three seasons. But if Ball can’t unlock him and Gobert’s offense still becomes a problem, that could drag down Minnesota’s ceiling and create real questions about his long-term future with the team.
In Other News...
Timberwolves Still Have One Frontcourt Question Before Camp Opens
The Timberwolves have spent the summer reshaping the edges of their roster, and one of the quieter developments is the growing belief that second-year big Joan Beringer can handle a real role behind Rudy Gobert. After the moves that brought in LaMelo Ball, Jonathan Kuminga and Cody Williams, Minnesotas frontcourt picture looks a little different, but the backup center spot remains one of the most practical questions left before camp opens.
There is still room for another move, and the Wolves may not be done looking at experienced size to round out the depth chart and the locker room. Veteran bigs such as Kelly Olynyk, Chuma Okeke and Bismack Biyombo have been mentioned as the kind of players who could make sense, which keeps the final decision in that frontcourt mix from feeling settled just yet. [Read more 🡒]
Timberwolves Still Have One Roster Question They Can't Ignore
With training camp still ahead, the Timberwolves are not exactly short on bodies, but they do have one standard roster spot sitting open under the second apron. After trading Josh Green, Minnesotas frontcourt picture is centered around Rudy Gobert, Joan Beringer and Trey Lyles, with Rocco Zikarsky on a two-way deal, which makes the last available slot feel less like a luxury than a practical decision about depth and insurance.
A veteran center on a minimum contract would fit the bill, and there are a few names that would make sense on paper as the Wolves sort through their options. Bismack Biyombo, Mason Plumlee, Drew Eubanks, Tony Bradley and Kelly Olynyk are among the possibilities, while Kevin Love adds a different kind of intrigue as a potential reunion after beginning his NBA career in Minnesota more than 12 years ago. [Read more 🡒]
Kevin Love Could Add One More Twist To Wolves Camp Plans
The Timberwolves head into camp with one roster spot still available, and the conversation around it has drifted toward a familiar name. Kevin Love, who once helped anchor Minnesota and most recently spent time with Utah, is reportedly a candidate for that final opening, giving the Wolves a chance to revisit a relationship that has long carried some built-in history.
What makes the idea linger is that the interest does not appear to be coming from one side alone. Love is said to be open to a return to Minnesota, and the Wolves have him in the mix as they weigh how to finish shaping the roster. No deal is in place yet, but a reunion would add another layer to a camp already set to include plenty of attention on how the team fills out its depth. [Read more 🡒]