The Los Angeles Lakers have a massive opportunity in front of them.
While many believe the Oklahoma City Thunder will represent the Western Conference in the NBA finals, Los Angeles, which dismantled the Thunder on Apr. 6, could make an underrated postseason run with Luka Doncic and LeBron James.
Still, achieving consistent success in the playoffs will require the Lakers to shore up their mediocre frontcourt, which is an issue the organization could address in the offseason.
A three-time All-Star center and 2017 blocks champion might be a solid big-man asset for the Lake Show in a potential Austin Reaves summer trade.
Rudy Gobert receives heavy slander for his indecisive low-post moves and inability to catch fastballs and drop-off passes cleanly.
However, his reliability as a lob threat in the pick-and-roll would appease a gifted passer in Doncic, who regularly makes the correct reads while attacking the second level.
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Defensively, Gobert struggles to contain herky-jerky perimeter-oriented assets when forced to switch onto them. As a rim protector, though, the 32-year-old veteran boasts a reputation for emphatically blocking shots around the rim.
Gobert has recorded two or more blocks per contest during nine of his 12 NBA seasons, similar to Anthony Davis’ production on the defensive end.
Gobert averaged 12.0 points, 10.9 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks per game in 72 regular-season contests this year.
According to Sir Charles in Charge’s Michael Saenz, Gobert may become available this summer.
"Even though the Minnesota Timberwolves did end up taking a bit of a step back this season, I wouldn't place a ton of blame on Rudy Gobert,” Saenz wrote Sunday.
"However, at the same time, because of his huge contract, he's probably going to make life difficult for this front office to make a big move to upgrade their roster heading into next season.”
"In fact, the argument can be made that if the Wolves are going to successfully upgrade their roster this summer, they may need to start with a trade of Gobert.”
"The acquisition of Gobert hasn't been a trainwreck for the Wolves, but it also hasn't been a slam dunk. At some point soon, you'd have to imagine the Wolves are going to pivot away from Gobert. It could make a ton of sense for the Wolves to go down that path sooner rather than later.”
If the Timberwolves agree to move on from Gobert, the Lakers should consider completing a deal involving Reaves.
The Oklahoma product was electric with the Lakers during the regular season, averaging 20.2 points, 5.8 assists, and 4.5 rebounds per game. He also shot 46.0% from the field and 37.7% from three-point range in 73 contests.
Still, the Lakers' commitment to bolstering their low-post production would undoubtedly place Reaves on the trade block.
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