Orlando Minnesota Brooklyn - Gobert to Magic, CamJ to Minnesota

[durantbird]

Trade Summary:

Orlando Magic receive: Rudy Gobert

Minnesota Timberwolves receive: Cam Johnson, Cole Anthony

Brooklyn Nets receive: Wendell Carter Jr., Anthony Black, Gary Harris, 2025 1st #16, 2025 2nd



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Minnesota Timberwolves rationale:
Add a versatile forward in Cam Johnson who fits well next to Edwards and McDaniels, bringing much-needed shooting and positional flexibility. Create room for Randle or Reid at center in a more modern lineup. NAW steps in as starting guard, with Cole Anthony as an energetic sixth man. Conley may still serve as a stabilizing veteran presence off the bench.

Orlando Magic rationale:
Make an aggressive move toward true contention by betting on Gobert’s continued defensive impact. His veteran presence and elite rim protection could strengthen their already well-established defensive identity alongside Wagner, Banchero, Suggs, and Isaac.

Brooklyn Nets rationale:
Cash in on Cam Johnson’s value for a package centered on youth and future flexibility. Acquire a promising backcourt piece in Anthony Black, regain a strong frontcourt contributor in Wendell Carter Jr., and add draft capital to support a longer-term build.

[Godaddycurse]

Reid and Randle on C is a terrible idea defensively

[ReggiesKnicks]

Minnesota doesn't have a Center, though they could address this in the draft.

Cole Anthony really has no place on Minnesota, but he could be flipped elsewhere.

Cam Johnson returning Black, #16, and I assume #31 is too much.

[jjohns828]

It feels wrong directionally for the Magic to trade for Gobert when the biggest thing needed is an upgrade of the offense.

[orlando_joe]

magic need shooting and ball handling this does not help...really do not understand the magic add center as of late?

[jjohns828]

magic need shooting and ball handling this does not help...really do not understand the magic add center as of late?

Ideally an upgrade at starting center would be nice but that is such a distant secondary need over upgrading the backcourt that I feel like it would be a mistake to spend any assets on that until the guard rotation is fixed.

[DarkXaero]

I don't like this for the Nets either. Not a fan of Anthony Black and the 16th pick isn't doing much for Nets (we already have 19th in that range, plus 4 firsts overall in this draft as of now). Nets would end up with 5 first round picks in this draft + two high 2nd round picks after this trade, that's just overkill and redundant.

[shrink]

Minnesota Timberwolves rationale:
Add a versatile forward in Cam Johnson who fits well next to Edwards and McDaniels, bringing much-needed shooting and positional flexibility. Create room for Randle or Reid at center in a more modern lineup. NAW steps in as starting guard, with Cole Anthony as an energetic sixth man. Conley may still serve as a stabilizing veteran presence off the bench.

MIN was top 5 in 3P% and 3PA last year, and added Donte DiVincenzo.

And while I’m not adverse to a Gobert trade, it should bring bing back a replacement starting center, because neither Naz nor Randle play center.

[schaffy]

Minnesota Timberwolves rationale:
Add a versatile forward in Cam Johnson who fits well next to Edwards and McDaniels, bringing much-needed shooting and positional flexibility. Create room for Randle or Reid at center in a more modern lineup. NAW steps in as starting guard, with Cole Anthony as an energetic sixth man. Conley may still serve as a stabilizing veteran presence off the bench.

I think the rationale presented for this falls apart quickly for Minnesota. Neither Randle nor Reid are a starting C in the league. Even starting them both together isn't ideal for the defense. Although here it seems you'd only start 1 with Cam and McDaniels as the forwards. In any event they'd need to get a replacement C if they move Gobert. They were also only 1 of 2 teams in the league in the top 5 in 3PA and 3P%, the other being Cleveland. If they have a much-needed shooting problem, so does everyone else. They could afford to clean up the turnovers though. And Cole Anthony wouldn't even be the first guard off the bench with DDV still around.

[Mamba4Goat]

I think I’d be open to this as a Wolves fan only if Randle was on his way out. You could probably do something around Anthony+17 for Poeltl to tidy up the center spot if need be.

Orlando probably only does this if there are more moves lined up to sort out their shooting. It was a need pre-Rudy and would be an even larger need post-acquiring him.

[Magic_Johnny12]

Orlando that ended with the second best defense in the league (even with their best defender going down) and had one of the worst offenses maybe ever needs a center that defensive minded and is limited offensively?

Make it make sense.

[Danimals]

Would be much better for the Wolves to turn Randle into Johnson.