After months of speculation, it finally happened. Rudy Gobert has been traded away from the Utah Jazz. The multi-time Defensive Player of the Year was dealt to Minnesota in a blockbuster deal. This trade ends one of the most successful eras of the franchise in recent memory.

A few hours after the trade was announced, Rudy Gobert took to Twitter to thank the Jazz fans. Here's what the Stifle Tower had to say.

Gobert was drafted by the Jazz with the 27th overall pick in 2013. After a few years, the French center became the NBA's premier rim protector, leading the league in blocked shots for many years. His reputation under the basket earned him the nickname “The Stifle Tower”, alluding to his French roots.

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Along with Donovan Mitchell, Rudy Gobert enjoyed a lot of success in the regular season during the mid-to-late 2010s. However, time and time again, they would fall short in the regular season. Over time, the public's opinion on Gobert shifted, as he was labeled as an undeserving DPOY winner despite his success.

The situation in Utah came to an irreparable end in the 2021-22 offseason. Rumors of a growing rift between Gobert and Mitchell festered prior to last year, but it worsened as the season went on. Their subsequent collapse in the playoffs against the Dallas Mavericks and the passive-aggressive comments from both players signaled the beginning of the end for the team.

Now, the Jazz are faced with an uncomfortable decision heading into the 2022-23 season. Are they going trade Mitchell and fully commit to a rebuild? Or are they going to try and build around the Jazz star after Gobert's departure?