Rudy Gobert is eligible for a three-year, $165 million extension with the Timberwolves on October 24, but don’t expect this to get wrapped up anytime soon.
That’s the read from Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic, who said he hasn’t heard any real momentum toward an immediate extension. And honestly, the slow pace makes sense. Gobert is 34, his value is tough to pin down, and Minnesota also has to factor in whatever growth comes from second-year big man Joan Beringer.
The big man is still producing at an elite level, especially on defense, and he remains a major reason the Wolves keep winning. His current deal - two years left on a three-year, $109.5 million contract that includes a $38 million player option next summer - already looks like strong value, especially since he took a pay cut in 2024. That contract has him as the league’s 47th highest-paid player.
But there’s a real balancing act here. Gobert is a 34-year-old center, and the risk only grows if Minnesota commits to paying him north of $30 million a year for multiple seasons. He’s never been an elite offensive player, so the question isn’t whether he helps - it’s how long the Wolves can bet on that level of impact holding up.
That’s why waiting may be the cleanest path for both sides. Minnesota can watch how Gobert and Beringer look this season before making a major decision, and the front office also has bigger contract matters on the horizon.
Anthony Edwards, LaMelo Ball, and Jaden McDaniels all need new deals, and in the second apron era, those choices carry serious long-term consequences. That’s a big reason this could drag into next summer.
If the Wolves were drawing up the perfect outcome, a front-loaded two-year, $50 million deal would make sense. It would reduce the age risk tied to Gobert and leave more room for the future extensions coming down the line.
The catch: Gobert probably isn’t eager to sign that kind of contract right now. This is his last chance to land a major long-term payday, and his value to Minnesota may only rise, with LaMelo Ball in the mix giving him more leverage later on.
Still, there are reasons to think a middle ground could emerge eventually. Gobert already showed a willingness to take less money two years ago, and he’s clearly focused on winning in a situation that fits him well. The Wolves could even explore lowering his $38 million salary next season in exchange for more security over the long haul.
For now, though, there’s no guarantee Gobert is ready to sacrifice again this early in the process. The likeliest outcome is patience, with the real resolution coming later, perhaps next summer. And if he picks up his player option, both sides can afford to let this breathe.
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Minnesota, in Finchs view, is moving toward a more layered attack instead of asking one player to carry every possession. With LaMelo Ball in the mix, the Wolves can ease Anthony Edwards into more of a scoring role and spread the decision-making around, which fits Finchs bigger point about depth and interchangeable pieces. The question now is whether that approach can give Minnesota the kind of playoff edge so many star-driven teams spend years chasing. [Read more 🡒]
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The Hornets already have a crowded backcourt, and Dillingham is walking into a situation where every possession will matter. Questions about his shooting, his physicality and how much overall impact he can make have followed him from stop to stop, and now the pressure shifts to proving he can carve out a role before the guard rotation closes in around him. [Read more 🡒]
Timberwolves Camp Battle Could Shake Up Minnesotas Back-End Roster
The Timberwolves have quietly filled out their training camp roster with a trio of newcomers in Norchad Omier, Drew Timme and KJ Martin, giving the front office a few more names to sort through as the season approaches. Omier and Timme come in as undrafted players with G League and limited NBA experience, while Martin brings the kind of prior NBA background that can make a back-end roster spot a little more interesting than it first appears.
Minnesota is looking at all of that talent in the context of a broader camp group that also includes additions like LaMelo Ball and Jonathan Kuminga, which should make for a more crowded evaluation process than usual. The real intrigue is how the Wolves sort the depth chart once the competition settles in, especially with the kind of two-way opening that can turn an overlooked camp invite into a real chance to stay. [Read more 🡒]