By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
The Boston Celtics explored acquiring Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert by inquiring about his availability prior to the trade deadline midway through the 2025–26 NBA Regular Season, according to a report by Jake Fischer on The Stein Line. This front-office dialogue surfaces alongside parallel insider reports indicating that Minnesota holds substantial interest in securing guard Derrick White.
Financially, the framework for this marquee transaction is seamless. The French center’s contract, featuring a $36.5 million salary cap hit next season and a subsequent $38 million player option, matches up almost perfectly with White’s multi-year deal, which pays $30.3 million and $32.6 million over the upcoming two campaigns.
Both sides appear open-minded regarding significant roster alterations aimed at optimizing the supporting casts around their respective cornerstone alphas, Jayson Tatum and Anthony Edwards.
Boston’s willingness to reshape their configuration around Tatum could escalate significantly if they begin dismantling their 2024 NBA championship core through other rumored offseason blockbusters, including a potential pursuit of Greek superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo from the Milwaukee Bucks.
Despite a logical salary match, such a massive player swap remains highly speculative. Neither franchise is actively shopping its respective standout asset, and the C’s trading away the fan favorite versatile defender would deeply shock league circles.
Furthermore, the latest executive chatter suggests that Minnesota is far more motivated to test the trade market for teammate Julius Randle, whose $33.3 million contract also serves as an identical financial match for White, before seriously considering moving 33-year-old Gobert.
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