Jazz vs. Timberwolves Friday NBA odds: Rudy Gobert faces former Utah team for first time since big trade

Friday night's Utah Jazz at Minnesota Timberwolves NBA matchup probably would be well off the national radar normally because, I mean, Salt Lake City and Minneapolis don't get a ton of attention from the major networks. But it's a very interesting game from the Twin Cities on Friday as former Jazz All-Star center Rudy Gobert faces Utah for the first time since this summer's big trade. The Timberwolves are 8-point favorites at Caesars Sportsbook.

In July, the Jazz sent Gobert to Minnesota -- an unexpected destination given that the Wolves already had an All-Star big man in Karl-Anthony Towns -- for veterans Malik Beasley, Patrick Beverley, Jarred Vanderbilt, Leandro Bolmaro, 2022 No. 22 pick Walker Kessler and four first-round picks: Unprotected picks in 2023, 2025 and 2027 and a top-five-protected pick in 2029. That was the beginning of Utah's complete teardown, and the price was so steep for the Wolves that it likely was what kept Kevin Durant in Brooklyn because the Nets wanted something similar for KD.

Gobert, a three-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year and +400 favorite to win a record-tying fourth, had a very productive Minnesota debut on Wednesday in a 115-108 win over Oklahoma City. Gobert put up 23 points (he rarely scores 20), 16 rebounds, two assists and a block. Of his 15 shot attempts, 14 came within five feet of the basket. The only exception was his buzzer-beating floater to end the third quarter. Six of his 10 makes were dunks (he usually leads the NBA in dunks). Coach Chris Finch said after the game that Gobert's "impact was strong everywhere."

Utah, which will be an underdog in probably 98% of its games this season, was +7 at home on Wednesday and upset Dallas 123-102. While Beverley was dumped by Utah after the Gobert trade, three of the other acquisitions made big contributions. Vanderbilt had seven points and 12 rebounds, Beasley 15 points and five rebounds, and Kessler 12 points and 10 rebounds. The former Auburn big man is +5000 to win NBA Rookie of the Year. 

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