LOS ANGELES — Rudy Gobert had a lot on his mind as he and his agent engaged in contract extension talks with the Minnesota Timberwolves in the days leading up to the season opener. He was entering what could have been the final season of his contract. He had a player option for almost $47 million for 2025-26.
In a moment of uncommon candidness for a player of his caliber, Gobert said he knew that number was untenable if he was going to stay in Minnesota and have a competitive team to chase that elusive title. Advertisement After a tough first season in Minnesota, he has been embraced by the fan base and has always had the full support of the organization, which is no small thing for a player who seems to routinely find himself the subject of derision from around the league. His son was born in Minnesota last spring, and he believes he has a real chance to win a championship with this team.
Gobert did not want to leave, but he knew that staying would mean taking a significant pay cut. Under the new collective bargaining agreement, teams and players have to make harder decisions when it comes to contract terms. The penalties are so much more now than just a fat luxury tax bill.
Teams above the dreaded second apron, as the Timberwolves are, have to build their rosters with one hand tied behind their back . They cannot aggregate players in trades to make salaries match. They have almost no wiggle room when it comes to the money they are sending out and the money they are receiv.