The Timberwolves are willing to trade Gobert to the Lakers. The three teams plan to swap 10 players. Preliminary discussion has been held

The latest report by the well-known NBA reporter Shams Salanya, the Timberwolves are exploring to send Rudy Gobert away and actively contact the Lakers to find a three-party deal. The Hawks are likely to become participants in this deal, and 10 players are expected to become bargaining chips in the deal and swap their bosses.

The Timberwolves and the Lakers encountered each other in the first round of the playoffs. Both teams were on different development tracks, but their goals were to seek breakthroughs in their respective team building paths, and seize the window period of young stars to build a team with long-term competitiveness. The Lakers, who have Doncic, urgently need to get a starting center to fill the fatal shortcomings in both offense and defense exposed in the playoffs. The Timberwolves have stopped in the Western Conference Finals for two consecutive years and need to reorganize the lineup around Edwards. The Timberwolves have no draft picks to trade, Naz Randle and Reed have the player options, and Conley is difficult to serve as starting point guards, and it is time for the Timberwolves to make huge changes. Although Trae Young's trade rumors are rampant, the Hawks prefer to retain their core lineup to improve their inside defense, frontcourt depth, shooting ability and substitute point guards. Participating in the Timberwolves and Lakers' trade can benefit from it.

"In the offseason, the Timberwolves prioritized renewal of the contract, leaving Reed and Alexander Walker, and used a suitable contract to renew Randall, adding a starting point guard on this basis." Sharania said, "Getting rid of Gobert's contract has become the key point for the Timberwolves to break the deadlock. His contract has three years left, which is a huge burden for the Timberwolves." Gobert averaged 12 points, 10.9 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game in the season, and was selected for the All-Defensive second team, but if the Timberwolves wanted to straighten Reed, they had to consider giving up Gobert. The Lakers may have a younger choice in the center position. If they want to compete for the championship in the next two seasons, they may not find a more mature center than Gobert. Sharanya revealed that after the Timberwolves were eliminated by the Thunder, the management took the initiative to discuss the topic of Gobert's trade with the Lakers.

"The dialogue between the two sides is still in an exploratory stage. Robert Pelinka is open to the transaction. He is very active and active in the trading market and will consider all possibilities." Sarania said, "Reeves' stubborn pursuit of maximum salary has forced the Lakers to adopt a more radical approach." If James jumps out of the contract and re-signs a two-year contract, then the Lakers' introduction of Gobert is a reasonable choice, which can not only ensure the recent championship but also release the salary space in the summer of 2027, continue to build a lineup around Doncic, and retain future draft picks.

Losing Reeves will be a loss, but the Lakers believe that Reeves with a maximum salary will not be Doncic's ideal long-term partner. With Doncic and James, Reeves' ability to hold the ball becomes optional. On the basketball level, it is easy to find players who replace Reeves, such as the option to package the Timberwolves' Divinchenzo and Gobert to the Lakers. Timberwolves Tim Connery hopes to get Reeves, Hachimura and rookie Kennett from the Lakers, and has not yet made a first-round draft pick. For the Lakers, the Timberwolves' deal proposal is fairer, and it can be said that it is a solution that is beneficial to both sides. The Timberwolves made more room for renewal of Reed, Randall and future Reeves, and the Lakers got the center they wanted and got a defender with excellent defense.

Hawks participated in the Timberwolves' trade with the Lakers, with their main goal being to get Conley and Vanderbilt, strengthen the substitute point guard and frontcourt depth. Conley worked with Hawks head coach Quinn Snyder for many years, is very familiar with each other, and is very reliable as a veteran substitute and has a leadership role in the locker room, which is beyond doubt. Moreover, Conley's contract is only 11 million US dollars a year, which is very beneficial to the Hawks' future contract renewal of young players. Vanderbilt can improve the Hawks' defensive strength, and the contract for the next three years is only 46.9 million US dollars.

According to the tripartite discussion information of the Timberwolves, Lakers and Hawks, there are at least 10 players involved in the trade, and the general trading plan is: the Lakers get Gobert of the Timberwolves, Divincenzo and Terence Mann and George Nian of the Hawks. The Timberwolves won the second round picks for Reeves, Hachimura, Kennett, Krabel, 2027 and 2029. The Hawks got Conley and Vanderbilt. The Hawks gained an experienced backup point guard, alleviating Snyder's on-the-spot scheduling pressure, and dealt with Mann's contract to avoid future wages rising to the second luxury tax line. The Lakers solved the inside problem of the core lineup of the double-held ball. The Timberwolves lineup has become younger and has formed a more reasonable lineup around Edwards, and the salary space has also been reduced to the second luxury tax standard.

However, under the multi-party interest game, the transaction is still in the oral discussion stage. The Timberwolves, Lakers and Hawks also need to reach a consensus on salary matching and future asset allocation, but this trading dialogue initiated by the Timberwolves is opening up a crazy market for the 2025 offseason.