30 in 30: How will the Minnesota Timberwolves handle expectations?

What role will Rudy Gobert play for the Minnesota Timberwolves this season?

Aside from how the Minnesota Timberwolves will handle the pressure of expectations, there will also be the question of what type of role Rudy Gobert will play for the team this season. The recently acquired big will be expected to help this team take another leap in their progression – from playoff hopeful to playoff player.

Heading into this season, the Wolves are not only expected to make the playoffs but they’re largely expected to make some noise this season. Gobert should play a factor in that. Objectively, Gobert will probably be expected to raise the ceiling for this team’s defense.

Minnesota struggled all year long (and into the playoffs) on the defensive side of the court and the hope is that Gobert will help solidify some of that. And for good measure, that’s exactly what he did for a Jazz team that didn’t have many individually great defenders.

Offensively, I believe that Gobert simply needs to be able to coexist with Karl-Anthony Towns. The last thing that the Wolves need is for the combination of Gobert and KAT to be an absolute disaster.