The Atlanta Hawks were never going to pay what the Minnesota Timberwolves did to land center Rudy Gobert from the Utah Jazz. Not just because the return for Gobert was enough to impact the talks over disgruntled superstar Kevin Durant. But also because the discussions never really got off of the ground.
An earlier report had the Hawks as the most logical destination for Gobert citing a package built around Clint Capela.
Atlanta was also linked to Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell. But Gobert is, instead, the Timberwolves’ big splash. And Capela is still a member of the Hawks despite Minnesota’s rumored interest in him.
The Gobert rumors were never much more than that.
Rudy Gobert talks never got far for the Atlanta Hawks this offseason
We have already learned that the Timberwolves were in on Dejounte Murray before the Hawks met the San Antonio Spurs’ asking price. There was also a report that the interest in Capela from Minnesota was more smoke than fire. The initial reaction to the rumored intrigue from Minnesota was curious from a fit standpoint.
That is, it was until they swung their monster deal for Gobert.
Minnesota sent three unprotected first-round picks as well as a pick swap and 2022 22nd-overall pick Walker Kessler along with four other players in exchange for Gobert, a three-time Defensive Player of the Year and All-Star.
Per Andy Larsen of the Salt Lake Tribune on the “Please Don’t Aggregate This” podcast, it does not sound as though the Hawks even considered going that high for Gobert.
“From what I hear, the Atlanta conversations about Rudy Gobert took about 20 minutes is all.”
That drew an immediate response from host Bleacher Report’s Jake Fischer who said that he “never thought those were going very far.”
ESPN’s Tim McMahon expressed similar sentiments on the “Hoop Collective” podcast.
Fischer cites Capela’s relationship with Young as one reason a trade seemed less than likely. He also said that he expects the Hawks to essentially be done this offseason with the search to find John Collins a new home coming up empty
It could also have something to do with their expected return on such a large investment leading them to a 25-year-old perimeter player in Murray as opposed to the 30-year-old Gobert.
The Hawks were 40-34 with the big man in the lineup. He had the fourth-best on-off differential among Hawks players to see at least 1000 non-garbage minutes, per Cleaning the Glass.
Capela was also one of just three Hawks to surpass 2000 such minutes last season.
As was the case in the Wolves’ decision to opt for Gobert over pursuing Capela, we will have to wait and see if the Hawks pairing another ball-dominant guard with Young was wise.
It does appear the Hawks got the better value deal even if they will have to try re-signing Murray in free agency next summer. He is not likely to command a deal that will pay him nearly $47 million in the final year as Gobert’s will should he opt-in following the 2026 season.