“He’s better than all the pieces you got back for Rudy”- 3x NBA All-Star mocks Utah Jazz, says a retired version of Dwyane Wade is better than players they received in the Rudy Gobert trade
Former NBA star Gilbert Arenas recently mocked the Utah Jazz, claiming that a retired Dwyane Wade is better than the pieces they received in the trade that sent Rudy Gobert to Minnesota.
Jazz's minority owner Wade recently posted a workout video on Instagram. The 40-year-old, who retired after the 2018-19 NBA season, showed off his handles and his athleticism when he dunked the ball at the end of the video.
Here's the clip:
Gilbert Arenas commented on the post, saying that Wade, even at his age, can make more of an impact than the players the Utah Jazz received in the trade for Rudy Gobert.
"He's better then all the pieces u got back for rudy signing up."
Utah traded Gobert to Minnesota in the offseason in exchange for Malik Beasley, Patrick Beverley, Walker Kessler, Jarred Vanderbilt and Leandro Bolmaro. They also received unprotected first-round picks in 2023, 2025, 2027, a pick swap in 2026 and a top-five protected pick in 2029.
Utah Jazz focus on rebuild in wake of Rudy Gobert trade
The Utah Jazz failed to achieve postseason success in the Donovan Mitchell-Rudy Gobert era. The Jazz have made six consecutive playoff appearances since the 2016-17 season but have never advanced past the second round.
Their first-round defeat in the 2022 playoffs made it clear that the team was heading nowhere with Mitchell and Gobert as the key pieces. Danny Ainge, who started his reign as the CEO of the Utah Jazz last season, didn't waste any time dismantling the team. After trading Gobert, he moved starter Royce O'Neale. Reports suggest the Jazz are listening to offers for Donovan Mitchell.
Veterans Mike Conley, Patrick Beverley, Malik Beasley and Bojan Bogdanovic could be on the move too.
The Jazz are reportedly interested in the Knicks' bevy of first-round picks and asked for a trade package of six first-round picks and Obi Toppin, Immanuel Quickley, Quentin Grimes and Miles McBride in exchange for Mitchell. However, the Knicks declined the offer.
It will be interesting to see how Ainge reshapes the Utah Jazz. He did a remarkable job with the Celtics during his tenure in Boston, landing Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen and Kyrie Irving. The Celtics also drafted two of the most talented wings in the league in Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown under Ainge, so it's safe to say that the Jazz are in good hands.