LOS ANGELES – Multiple times this offseason, Timberwolves President Tim Connelly said it was his hope Rudy Gobert would retire with the team.

Connelly and Gobert took a step toward making that a reality Tuesday night as Gobert agreed to a three-year, $110 million extension, a source confirmed.

The center will make $43.8 million this season, and the extension starts in 2025-26. He will decline a player option he had after this season, but will have a player option after the second year of this new contract, a source confirmed.

ESPN first reported news of the deal.

Gobert, 32, is playing this third season in Minnesota after picking up his fourth NBA Defensive Player of the Year award last season.

The trade this offseason that sent Karl-Anthony Towns to New York for Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo helped free up long-term roster flexibility as the team rid itself of four years of Towns’ supermax contract.

Connelly is also high on center Naz Reid, who he would like to be in a Wolves uniform after this season, when Reid has a player option.

The deal with Gobert ensures he will be with the Wolves as he enters his mid 30s and still allows the Wolves roster flexibility in the future, especially if Gobert opts out after the second year of the deal.

Gobert averaged 14 points and 12.9 rebounds a season ago along with 2.1 blocks. He was the anchor of the Wolves’ No. 1 defense a season ago after coming over from Utah in a blockbuster trade in the summer of 2022.

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