D'Angelo Russell was openly complaining about Gobert

[AbeVigodaLive]

Thank god Wolves beat writers didn't release this news before the trade...would have made the situation awkward and tanked DLo's value

Jon Krawczynski (The Athletic) is in pretty tight with the Wolves new brass.

He's one of the best beat writers in the game and surely wanted to keep his nearly unfettered access to the team... so he kept this under wraps. But you could tell something was amiss, either by carefully chosen wording... or just by watching the games.

For whatever reasons, Gobert seems to have a certain reputation among other players. Now granted, some of these same players seem to idolize guys like Kyrie Irving, so you have to take their takes with a grain of salt. But Edwards had seemingly pointed comments directed at Gobert before the trade. And Towns and Gobert were heated rivals... with Gobert's spot on the All NBA team a couple years back costing Towns' $30M dollars.

Meanwhile, after the best Wolves season in nearly 20 years... the new GM immediately blew it up without consulting with any of the star players for one of the most polarizing players in the league (by fans and players). The team had to completely change how it played on the court. Obviously, nobody should be surprised that not everybody was super duper happy about it.

The Gobert trade was been a bad one so far. It could get better... yet, there's a real possibility it could get even worse. Nearly one season in, we still don't know if Gobert and Towns can even share the court together.

[Lockdown504090]

dude, everyone complains about rudy gobert, this isnt a story.

[DrCoach]

Dlo isnt a good teammate. Doubt LA resigns him

[Billl]

I mean, he's not wrong, but you aren't supposed to say that where it could go public.

[TheNetsFan]

Thank god Wolves beat writers didn't release this news before the trade...would have made the situation awkward and tanked DLo's value

Jon Krawczynski (The Athletic) is in pretty tight with the Wolves new brass.

He's one of the best beat writers in the game and surely wanted to keep his nearly unfettered access to the team... so he kept this under wraps. But you could tell something was amiss, either by carefully chosen wording... or just by watching the games.

For whatever reasons, Gobert seems to have a certain reputation among other players. Now granted, some of these same players seem to idolize guys like Kyrie Irving, so you have to take their takes with a grain of salt. But Edwards had seemingly pointed comments directed at Gobert before the trade. And Towns and Gobert were heated rivals... with Gobert's spot on the All NBA team a couple years back costing Towns' $30M dollars.

Meanwhile, after the best Wolves season in nearly 20 years... the new GM immediately blew it up without consulting with any of the star players for one of the most polarizing players in the league (by fans and players). The team had to completely change how it played on the court. Obviously, nobody should be surprised that not everybody was super duper happy about it.

The Gobert trade was been a bad one so far. It could get better... yet, there's a real possibility it could get even worse. Nearly one season in, we still don't know if Gobert and Towns can even share the court together.

Durant has trashed Gobert in the past, essentially calling his defense overrated & that he can easily be put in the pick & roll & played off the court in the playoffs. I believe he's always been the last pick when the all-star captains draft their all-star teams. He's criminally overrated by media and people desperately looking for a way to analytically quantify defensive impact.

[Karmaloop]

Didn't Donovan Mitchell have issues with him as well?

[AbeVigodaLive]

Thank god Wolves beat writers didn't release this news before the trade...would have made the situation awkward and tanked DLo's value

Jon Krawczynski (The Athletic) is in pretty tight with the Wolves new brass.

He's one of the best beat writers in the game and surely wanted to keep his nearly unfettered access to the team... so he kept this under wraps. But you could tell something was amiss, either by carefully chosen wording... or just by watching the games.

For whatever reasons, Gobert seems to have a certain reputation among other players. Now granted, some of these same players seem to idolize guys like Kyrie Irving, so you have to take their takes with a grain of salt. But Edwards had seemingly pointed comments directed at Gobert before the trade. And Towns and Gobert were heated rivals... with Gobert's spot on the All NBA team a couple years back costing Towns' $30M dollars.

Meanwhile, after the best Wolves season in nearly 20 years... the new GM immediately blew it up without consulting with any of the star players for one of the most polarizing players in the league (by fans and players). The team had to completely change how it played on the court. Obviously, nobody should be surprised that not everybody was super duper happy about it.

The Gobert trade was been a bad one so far. It could get better... yet, there's a real possibility it could get even worse. Nearly one season in, we still don't know if Gobert and Towns can even share the court together.

Durant has trashed Gobert in the past, essentially calling his defense overrated & that he can easily be put in the pick & roll & played off the court in the playoffs. I believe he's always been the last pick when the all-star captains draft their all-star teams. He's criminally overrated by media and people desperately looking for a way to analytically quantify defensive impact.

He's pretty one-dimensional as a player. Or, at least, very limited in what he can do on offense. And... it's more obvious if we compare him to all the guys who can dribble and soar and glide so effortlessly.

Meanwhile, notoriously bad defenders can be hidden a bit either by scheme, lack of hoops knowledge or simply because most of us are too busy marveling at the talented players with the ball and not looking at the feet of the defenders.

So, it's no wonder that Gobert is ripped for his stone hands, clumsy movements and complete lack of touch or finesse. It's just easier to spot.

Basketball can be a pretty game. Gobert doesn't have a pretty style. It definitely doesn't mean he's worthless or not elite at parts of it... only that he's a bit of a niche player. And that makes him polarizing.

The avalanche of stats available only adds to the fun... with his fans and detractors both having access to ample evidence to double and triple down on their takes.

[thinktank]

D-Lo isn't going to succeed back in LA. His ego will be his undoing.

Dude all he needs to do is hit some shots from three and playmake a little and its already a success. Both of them he does really well.

Really?

He can be a turnstile on D and it’s totally fine?

They’re not going to resign him.

Lakers are going to find out the hard way how difficult it is to hide DLo on D.

That’s why it’s funny DLo talks **** about Gobert. He covered for DLo on D with no thanks for it.

[Pharmcat]

Jon Krawczynski (The Athletic) is in pretty tight with the Wolves new brass.

He's one of the best beat writers in the game and surely wanted to keep his nearly unfettered access to the team... so he kept this under wraps. But you could tell something was amiss, either by carefully chosen wording... or just by watching the games.

For whatever reasons, Gobert seems to have a certain reputation among other players. Now granted, some of these same players seem to idolize guys like Kyrie Irving, so you have to take their takes with a grain of salt. But Edwards had seemingly pointed comments directed at Gobert before the trade. And Towns and Gobert were heated rivals... with Gobert's spot on the All NBA team a couple years back costing Towns' $30M dollars.

Meanwhile, after the best Wolves season in nearly 20 years... the new GM immediately blew it up without consulting with any of the star players for one of the most polarizing players in the league (by fans and players). The team had to completely change how it played on the court. Obviously, nobody should be surprised that not everybody was super duper happy about it.

The Gobert trade was been a bad one so far. It could get better... yet, there's a real possibility it could get even worse. Nearly one season in, we still don't know if Gobert and Towns can even share the court together.

Durant has trashed Gobert in the past, essentially calling his defense overrated & that he can easily be put in the pick & roll & played off the court in the playoffs. I believe he's always been the last pick when the all-star captains draft their all-star teams. He's criminally overrated by media and people desperately looking for a way to analytically quantify defensive impact.

He's pretty one-dimensional as a player. Or, at least, very limited in what he can do on offense. And... it's more obvious if we compare him to all the guys who can dribble and soar and glide so effortlessly.

Meanwhile, notoriously bad defenders can be hidden a bit either by scheme, lack of hoops knowledge or simply because most of us are too busy marveling at the talented players with the ball and not looking at the feet of the defenders.

So, it's no wonder that Gobert is ripped for his stone hands, clumsy movements and complete lack of touch or finesse. It's just easier to spot.

Basketball can be a pretty game. Gobert doesn't have a pretty style. It definitely doesn't mean he's worthless or not elite at parts of it... only that he's a bit of a niche player. And that makes him polarizing.

The avalanche of stats available only adds to the fun... with his fans and detractors both having access to ample evidence to double and triple down on their takes.

When the skeleton of Nicholas batum neutralizes you in playoffs it’s easy to see why players wonder what the hype is all about related to gobert

[hoosierdaddy34]

Seems like his attitude towards Gobert was the same as Mitchell’s but with less tact. These guards hate them some Gobert.

Difference in LA is that LeBron is an alpha. If D Lo pulls any crap LeBron will destroy his confidence and put him in his place. And AD just won’t acknowledge him until he gets on board with the pecking order. And Ham and Handy clearly aren’t scared of getting in his ear. And if things get really bad, they will just threaten to bring Magic back as VP

Seriously though I don’t foresee any real issues coming, the Lakers have internal structure in place to handle this like they do for a guy like Kyrie.

[Capn'O]

Good thing they got a guy who actually knows how to play with Gobert, in Conley. Very underrated deadline move. They improve on both ends and Conley is an adult, a professional. He'll be the steadying force they needed.

Agreed completely. Conley was a great get for them.

[hoosierdaddy34]

Thank god Wolves beat writers didn't release this news before the trade...would have made the situation awkward and tanked DLo's value

Jon Krawczynski (The Athletic) is in pretty tight with the Wolves new brass.

He's one of the best beat writers in the game and surely wanted to keep his nearly unfettered access to the team... so he kept this under wraps. But you could tell something was amiss, either by carefully chosen wording... or just by watching the games.

For whatever reasons, Gobert seems to have a certain reputation among other players. Now granted, some of these same players seem to idolize guys like Kyrie Irving, so you have to take their takes with a grain of salt. But Edwards had seemingly pointed comments directed at Gobert before the trade. And Towns and Gobert were heated rivals... with Gobert's spot on the All NBA team a couple years back costing Towns' $30M dollars.

Meanwhile, after the best Wolves season in nearly 20 years... the new GM immediately blew it up without consulting with any of the star players for one of the most polarizing players in the league (by fans and players). The team had to completely change how it played on the court. Obviously, nobody should be surprised that not everybody was super duper happy about it.

The Gobert trade was been a bad one so far. It could get better... yet, there's a real possibility it could get even worse. Nearly one season in, we still don't know if Gobert and Towns can even share the court together.

It’s because the players respect Kyries skill level, he’s probably the most talented (didn’t say best) guard in the game. And game recognizes game.

Gobert isn’t classically skilled…at all. And players have a hard time with that. And I think they do hear how much the media and others prop up Gobert, and they see him with a big contract and all these draft being moved for him. And it leaves them with a “WTF…this guy?” feeling when they watch him play.

[Curmudgeon]

Why couldn't the "internal structure" of a Laker team that has been 58-80 since the bubble handle Russell Westbrook?

[babyjax13]

Didn't Donovan Mitchell have issues with him as well?

At times. It was a bit overblown, too, though. They both basically said, both then and retrospectively, that they respected and liked each other even if they weren't best friends. There was a period with issues due to Rudy's irresponsibility surrounding the beginning of covid, but Donovan seemed to get over it - likely due to Rudy's sheer generosity in helping so many people out in the community (both Utah and OKC) who were affected. I think Rudy's probably a bit of an abrasive personality, but there are a lot of former players on the team who absolutely love him, and he is great in the community.

[babyjax13]

Good thing they got a guy who actually knows how to play with Gobert, in Conley. Very underrated deadline move. They improve on both ends and Conley is an adult, a professional. He'll be the steadying force they needed.

Agreed completely. Conley was a great get for them.

We had multiple players who seemed completely despondent that Conley was traded, seems like he is everyone's favorite teammate everywhere he goes. That might be the most important part of the trade for Minnesota, because they have all the talent and seemingly have figured out how to play with Rudy.

[jazzfan1971]

Rudy isn't bad on offense. He is fantastic. He scored 14-15 points a night at an incredible FG% between 62 and 71% the last 5 years in Utah.

Not many guys in NBA history have been able to score at such a good FG% at that level.

He is a fantastic tool. But you have to use him correctly. You use him as a roller and give him the ball high. You don't feed him in the post. You don't ask him to score over smaller players.

Just use him in the things he can do, because he does those things great. Don't try to use him in the ways he sucks, because you'll be disappointed.

You need a good coach and PG. It's not Goberts fault if you can't figure out how to utilize him. That is your fault because it isn't that hard to do.

[The Laker Kid]

La messed up not going after Conley. He is a true PG. Russell is just a better Lou Williams

Ainge probably asked for 2 1sts, a young player, and some noods of Jeanie Buss

Are you saying that Danny Ainge has no internet?

[Chuck Everett]

Seems like his attitude towards Gobert was the same as Mitchell’s but with less tact. These guards hate them some Gobert.

Difference in LA is that LeBron is an alpha. If D Lo pulls any crap LeBron will destroy his confidence and put him in his place. And AD just won’t acknowledge him until he gets on board with the pecking order. And Ham and Handy clearly aren’t scared of getting in his ear. And if things get really bad, they will just threaten to bring Magic back as VP

Seriously though I don’t foresee any real issues coming, the Lakers have internal structure in place to handle this like they do for a guy like Kyrie.

How did this work out with Westbrook?

[Tracymcgoaty]

D-Lo isn't going to succeed back in LA. His ego will be his undoing.

Dude all he needs to do is hit some shots from three and playmake a little and its already a success. Both of them he does really well.

Really?

He can be a turnstile on D and it’s totally fine?

They’re not going to resign him.

Lakers are going to find out the hard way how difficult it is to hide DLo on D.

That’s why it’s funny DLo talks **** about Gobert. He covered for DLo on D with no thanks for it.

I mean legit that is what we need. WB was horrible as well on defense. If DLO is mediocre on defense its a plus. I dont want um signing an extension with La. He's a rental.

[NZB2323]

Makes sense why they traded him. The Lakers undoubtedly got better this deadline.

D'lo has been shooting well from 3, but he doesn't play defense, plays iso ball, makes bad passes and has attitude issues. I'm not sure if we should count this as a "win" for the Lakers.