5 teams that can make an intriguing offer for Rudy Gobert

4. Brooklyn Nets

The Nets have thus far not the met the natural expectations that came with pairing Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, which for skeptics was easy to see coming. Making it a “Big Three” by bringing in James Harden did not work, due to reasons that are almost unfairly easy to pin solely on Harden (being in shape, a pretty clear erosion of his skills, etc.). Shaking up the roster won’t be easy, but a calculated move here and there to change the mix around the star duo would certainly be well-founded.

With that, here’s an offer the Nets could make for Gobert.

Nets get: C Rudy Gobert
Jazz get: G Ben Simmons, two first-round picks

This about as straight-forward as it gets. Simmons never suited up for Brooklyn after being acquired from Philadelphia in the Harden deal. He underwent back surgery on May 5, and he should be ready for training camp. But can the Nets really count on anything? Simmons would seem to fit perfectly as the third wheel to Durant and Irving, since he’s a strong defender, passer and rebounder who will easily defer shots. But he’s got to get on the floor to see if it works.

In Simmons the Jazz would be getting a more versatile defender than Gobert. Someone who’s capable of guarding at least four (if not all five) positions on the floor, and wouldn’t be minimized on that end of the floor simply by opponents moving him away from the basket on pick-and-rolls and such. Simmons would also ramp up the pace of Utah’s offense, which gets stagnant at times. A gamble he can get right physically could be well worth it.

On the other hand, with the limitations Irving, Durant, etc. have defensively, the Nets could use an eraser like Gobert around the basket. He would also be very useful as a screener on the offensive end, using his big body to create space for the two stars in particular.

Two first-round picks might seem like a bit much for Brooklyn to add to Simmons in a deal. But draft picks just don’t mean much to a team that’s trying to win now, as they are. If it takes two rather than one first-rounder to make an offer for Gobert that gets Utah’s attention, so be it.