This one is tricky.

The Timberwolves raised a lot of eyebrows across the NBA when they gave up four players and five number ones to get the multi-time Defensive Player of the Year, Rudy Gobert.  It was a lot to give up, but the results have been scary thus far.

The Frenchman had solid numbers in 2022/23, averaging a double-double with 13.4 Points and 11.6 Rebounds per Game.  This is good, but was down from his previous All-Star years, and the meshing of him and Karl-Anthony Towns has yet to be fruitful. 

Last year was much better for Gobert and the T-Wolves, as though he was not an All-Star, his defensive prowess returned to form and he won the Defensive Player of the Year.  Even better, Gobert and Minnesota made it to the Western Conference Finals and enter this year as bona fide NBA Championship contenders.  It is easy to vault up a basketball list, especially on an expansion team that has never been to the Finals, thus explaining this rank.