NBA trade ‘insanity’ on day of mega-deals and madness

Billions of dollars have exchanged hands as the NBA free agency period exploded on a day of mega-deals and trade madness.

Rudy Gobert is leaving. Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images.

The first full day of NBA free agency has not disappointed.

Utah’s decision to send All-Star centre Rudy Gobert to the Timberwolves has been the headline act on a day of madness and mega-deals.

Just one day after Kevin Durant’s trade request blew up the Brooklyn Nets, the whole league is now getting a shake-up.

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ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski first reported Saturday morning the Jazz agreed to trade the star centre to Minnesota as part of a crazy deal that will see the Wolves give up four players and four first-round NBA Draft picks.

Rudy Gobert is gone. Photo by Chris Graythen / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / AFP.

The Gobert trade landed when news of several max contract extensions, included Zach LaVine’s $215-million decision to stay with the Chicago Bulls and New Orleans star Zion Williamson signing a five-year rookie max contract worth up to $231 million, according to The Athletic’s Shams Charania.

The deals were coming in fast on Saturday morning, including:

— Minnesota giving up Malik Beasley, Patrick Beverley, Jarred Vanderbilt, No. 22 draft pick Walker Kessler four first-round NBA Draft picks in the Gobert trade.

— Klutch Sports Group also announced that Jusuf Nurkic has agreed to a four-year contract worth $70 million to stay with the Portland Trail Blazers and John Wall has agreed to a two-year deal worth $13.2 million to play for the Los Angeles Clippers.

— Mitchell Robinson staying with the New York Knicks, according to ESPN and the New York Daily News, on a four-year deal worth $60 million while Gary Payton II joins Portland on a three-year deal for $28 million.

— Spanish guard Ricky Rubio, 31, has reportedly reached a deal on a three-year contract worth $18 million with the Cleveland Cavaliers.

— Devin Booker has reportedly agreed to a four-year, $224 million deal to stay in Phoenix while young Memphis star Ja Morant is expected to ink a five-year extension worth $193 million.

Zion got paid. Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images.

— Golden State Warrior’s centre Kevon Looney has agreed to a three-year, $25.5 million deal to return to the team, ESPN reported.

— Boston agreed to acquire Pacers guard Malcolm Brogdon in exchange for Daniel Theis, Aaron Nesmith, Nik Stauskas, Malik Fitts. Juwan Morgan and a 2023 first-round pick, ESPN reported.

— Williamson’s deal with the Pelicans keeps him under contract through the 2027-28 season.

Gobert’s trade to Minnesota is ‘insane’

Gobert, 30, was long-rumoured to be traded from Utah this offseason, The New York Post reports.

According to Wojnarowski, the Jazz plan to retool their roster around Donovan Mitchell. Long a target of the Knicks’ affection, it appears Utah may not have any interest in dealing their other All-Star.

The New York native was long rumoured to be disgruntled with Gobert, dating back to the Frenchman’s central role in the NBA’s COVID-19 shutdown in 2020, among other gripes.

Several reports on Friday indicated Utah is interested in Suns centre Deandre Ayton, a restricted free agent, which would confirm that they don’t plan on tearing down.

The price paid by the Wolves blew some NBA commentators away.

NBA journalist Ryan Russillo posted on Twitter: “Basically 5 unprotected firsts for Gobert is insane”.

The Ringer’s Kevin O’Connor wrote: “Five firsts for Gobert. Now imagine what the Nets will get for Durant”.

NBA commentator Bill Simmons also couldn’t believe the price Minnesota paid.

“Gonna spend the next 48 hours before Sunday’s pod wirh Russillo wondering if Minnesota just made the most inexplicable NBA overpay trade of all time”.

Seven-footer Gobert is a three-time NBA All-Star and has been named Defensive Player of the Year three times throughout his career.

He has spent all nine of his NBA seasons with Utah, where he has helped the Jazz reach the playoffs for six straight years.

Last season, Gobert averaged 15.6 points per game, a league-leading 14.7 rebounds and 2.1 blocks.

In Minnesota, the player dubbed the “Stifle Tower” will be teaming with another star big man in Karl-Anthony Towns, who has reportedly agreed to a four-year, $224 million extension.

Meanwhile, the free agency negotiating period had barely opened on Friday when it was reported that two-time reigning MVP Nikola Jokic planned to sign a five-year $270 million extension with the Denver Nuggets — the largest contract in NBA history.

— with AFP

Originally published as NBA trade ‘insanity’ on day of mega-deals and madness