Barkley blasts T-Wolves for Rudy Gobert trade: 'They got two 7-footers like idiots' / News - Basketnews.com

Charles Barkley: "I hated that trade. It would've been fine in our day."

Credit: AP-Scanpix Credit AP-Scanpix

The Minnesota Timberwolves are off to a 4-4 start in the 2022-23 NBA season.

Rudy Gobert

MIN:32.44PTS:13.25 (61.11%)REB:14As:1.25ST:0.63BL:1.63TO:1.5GM:8ProfileNBA2022/2023

The T-Wolves haven't seen the second round in nearly two decades. They believe that a mighty foursome of Karl-Anthony Towns, Rudy Gobert, Anthony Edwards, and D'Angelo Russell can become a core to reshape history.

However, the beginning of the season shows the growing pains of incorporating two 7-footers into a five.

Timberwolves is the only team in the NBA with two 7-footers in the starting lineup and with Jaden McDaniels at 6'10'' they're the only team in the league with three starters at his height or taller.

Minnesota went big when the league is playing small ball. Ant that's a problem, according to Charles Barkley.

"They got two 7-footers out there like idiots. Nice trade," 11-time NBA All-Star said of an off-season trade.

Timberwolves acquired Gobert from the Utah Jazz via the trade in exchange for guards Patrick Beverley, Malik Beasley, Leandro Bolmaro, and forward Jarred Vanderbilt, along with the draft rights to center Walker Kessler and Minnesota's 2023, 2025, 2027, and 2029 first-round picks and a 2026 first-round pick swap.

"I hated that trade. They can't play the pick-n-roll. It would've been fine in our day," Barkley said, adding that Minnesota's big lineup "can't guard today's game" and "they're not dominating in the paint offensively or defensively."

"Who the teams they're going to have to beat?" Barkley asked rhetorically, with Shaquille O'Neal and Kenny Smith agreeing that the West goes through Phoenix Suns, Golden State Warriors, and Los Angeles Clippers.

"None of those guys got big dudes," said Barkley. "So what good is it to have big two big dudes out there? They can't guard 3-point shooters. I just didn't like the trade at all."

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