NBA Trade Proposal Sends Timberwolves’ Rudy Gobert To Bulls

May 29, 2025

One NBA analyst proposed that the Chicago Bulls and Minnesota Timberwolves make a trade with each other this offseason.

Bailey Bassett of ClutchPoints proposed the following trade idea between the Timberwolves and Bulls:

Bulls receive: Rudy Gobert

Timberwolves receive: Nikola Vucevic, Lonzo Ball, two second-round picks

Gobert will make $35 million next season, Vucevic will make $21.5 million in the final year of his contract and Ball will make $10 million.

The Timberwolves lost to the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference Finals in five games.

Meanwhile, the Bulls missed the postseason for the third straight year.

A four-time Defensive Player of the Year, Gobert averaged 12.0 points, 10.9 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 0.8 steals and 1.4 blocks for the Timberwolves this season.

The three-time All-Star then put up 7.9 points, 8.6 rebounds, 0.7 assists, 0.5 steals and 1.2 blocks in the playoffs in 15 games against the Los Angeles Lakers, Golden State Warriors and Thunder.

“While still a great defender, he isn’t as dominant on that end as he once was,” Bassett wrote. “Luckily for the Timberwolves, the team has plenty of other defensive stalwarts. Anthony Edwards, Jaden McDaniels, Jaylen Clark, and Nickeil Alexander-Walker are all elite on that end, but the team needs to give Edwards a little bit of help on offense. Vucevic is more of an offensive-minded big.

“While the big man is limited to put-backs and alley-oops on offense, he is still one of the best defensive players in the league. The Stifle Tower was down to 1.4 blocks per game last year, but he still has some gas in the tank as an elite rim protector. The Bulls need defensive help. Their roster has plenty of offensive-minded players, such as Coby White, Kevin Huerter, Josh Giddey, and Matas Buzelis. Gobert could help make up for any defensive shortcomings the team may have.”

Gobert turns 33 in June. He has career averages of 12.6 points, 11.7 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 0.7 steals and 2.1 blocks with the Utah Jazz and Timberwolves.