Naz Reid

[Monster]

Didn't know where to put this post but I'm kind of in the let's just run the roster we have and see what happens. The only spot I think we need to replace is Nowell and that might come naturally with Jmac and Prince returning soon. 9 man playoff rotation will be the starters, slow Mo, Prince, Jmac, rivers with options of Naz and Nowell based on need. Also I think there is a decent chance Pat Bev or Barton are on this roster during the buyout market.

Yeah, I feel like our starters are rock solid, even without KAT for now. But our bench could be a real weapon if little Mac and Prince can get (and stay) healthy. It means Nowell will have to be really good to stay in the rotation whereas now Finch is sort of forced to play him.

It really sucks that I feel like I have to hold my breath when Nowell comes into the game and we have a lead. Coming into the season, I thought he'd be a 6th man of the year candidate!

Going into the season with Rivers and Forbes signed some wondered if Nowell would make the rotation if he didn't play well. I know the Wolves are short on PGs but it's still a bit interesting that Forbes has basically got zero chances to get into the rotation. I realize he has sucked making shots too and the Wolves are invested in Nowell succeeding but Forbes has a track record of being a veteran player. I'm not saying he should be playing but it's interesting that Nowell keeps getting chances. Like I said before he is effective inside the arc and at least plays hard.

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

The rest of the big men floating around the deadline have been reserves such as Serge Ibaka, Andre Drummond, Richaun Holmes, Mo Bamba, Jaxson Hayes and Nerlens Noel. The name to keep an eye on most may be Timberwolves center Naz Reid, who has declined varied contract extension offers from Minnesota, sources told Yahoo Sports, and is said to be seeking salary in the ballpark of $10 million next season. While the Wolves have clearly shown interest in retaining Reid, Minnesota already has a mountain of money committed to Karl-Anthony Towns and Rudy Gobert, plus the Wolves seem unlikely to be able to afford both Reid and guard Jaylen Nowell at the price points each player desires.

Link: https://sports.yahoo.com/lakers-still-exploring-ways-to-improve-with-potential-russell-westbrook-deal-174912465.html

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

Referring to my previous post about Naz Reid and what he wants on his next deal ($10M AAV), I think it's pretty reasonable. He's surely playing at or around that level and has been critical given the injury issues Karl-Anthony Towns and Rudy Gobert have dealt with this season.

I projected him to sign for four-years, $35M ($8.75M AAV) this summer. Perhaps both sides would compromise at three-years, $30M ($10M AAV) with a team option on the fourth year, assuming they couldn't get him to sign a more team-friendly deal. Reid would concede the fourth year guarantee that most young free agents desire, but locks in a higher AAV that he desires.

[Lipoli390]

Referring to my previous post about Naz Reid and what he wants on his next deal ($10M AAV), I think it's pretty reasonable. He's surely playing at or around that level and has been critical given the injury issues Karl-Anthony Towns and Rudy Gobert have dealt with this season.

I projected him to sign for four-years, $35M ($8.75M AAV) this summer. Perhaps both sides would compromise at three-years, $30M ($10M AAV) with a team option on the fourth year, assuming they couldn't get him to sign a more team-friendly deal. Reid would concede the fourth year guarantee that most young free agents desire, but locks in a higher AAV that he desires.

If it's a 3-year $30 million deal with a player option on the 4th, then the Wolves should forget about trading Naz and sign him as soon as they can. He's a terrific backup center with the potential to be more. Meanwhile, I don't trust Rudy's fit for this team or KAT's ability to stay on the court. I never thought I'd think that about KAT, who was an iron man his first 4 seasons. But things have sure gone south for him from a resiliency standpoint. Maybe he'll be back to his old self after he's back from this calf injury, but I'm not holding my breath. I still maintain that the Wolves will need to move Rudy or KAT at some point in next year or so. Given that expectation, I'd like to have Naz in the fold.

[kekgeek]

Referring to my previous post about Naz Reid and what he wants on his next deal ($10M AAV), I think it's pretty reasonable. He's surely playing at or around that level and has been critical given the injury issues Karl-Anthony Towns and Rudy Gobert have dealt with this season.

I projected him to sign for four-years, $35M ($8.75M AAV) this summer. Perhaps both sides would compromise at three-years, $30M ($10M AAV) with a team option on the fourth year, assuming they couldn't get him to sign a more team-friendly deal. Reid would concede the fourth year guarantee that most young free agents desire, but locks in a higher AAV that he desires.

If it's a 3-year $30 million deal with a player option on the 4th, then the Wolves should forget about trading Naz and sign him as soon as they can. He's a terrific backup center with the potential to be more. Meanwhile, I don't trust Rudy's fit for this team or KAT's ability to stay on the court. I never thought I'd think that about KAT, who was an iron man his first 4 seasons. But things have sure gone south for him from a resiliency standpoint. Maybe he'll be back to his old self after he's back from this calf injury, but I'm not holding my breath. I still maintain that the Wolves will need to move Rudy or KAT at some point in next year or so. Given that expectation, I'd like to have Naz in the fold.

Lip I'm convinced you hate defense. Wolves are #1 in the NBA with Rudy on the floor and #28 when he is off it. And don't give me the win % without Rudy when only 2 of those teams are over 500. If that is the case Ant should never play again because the wolves are 7-3 lifetime when Ant does not play.

[Lipoli390]

Referring to my previous post about Naz Reid and what he wants on his next deal ($10M AAV), I think it's pretty reasonable. He's surely playing at or around that level and has been critical given the injury issues Karl-Anthony Towns and Rudy Gobert have dealt with this season.

I projected him to sign for four-years, $35M ($8.75M AAV) this summer. Perhaps both sides would compromise at three-years, $30M ($10M AAV) with a team option on the fourth year, assuming they couldn't get him to sign a more team-friendly deal. Reid would concede the fourth year guarantee that most young free agents desire, but locks in a higher AAV that he desires.

If it's a 3-year $30 million deal with a player option on the 4th, then the Wolves should forget about trading Naz and sign him as soon as they can. He's a terrific backup center with the potential to be more. Meanwhile, I don't trust Rudy's fit for this team or KAT's ability to stay on the court. I never thought I'd think that about KAT, who was an iron man his first 4 seasons. But things have sure gone south for him from a resiliency standpoint. Maybe he'll be back to his old self after he's back from this calf injury, but I'm not holding my breath. I still maintain that the Wolves will need to move Rudy or KAT at some point in next year or so. Given that expectation, I'd like to have Naz in the fold.

Lip I'm convinced you hate defense. Wolves are #1 in the NBA with Rudy on the floor and #28 when he is off it. And don't give me the win % without Rudy when only 2 of those teams are over 500. If that is the case Ant should never play again because the wolves are 7-3 lifetime when Ant does not play.

I like winning and so far this team wins less than last season when KAT was the Wolves starting center with Vando and Beverley in the starting lineup and Naz coming off the bench. Yes, we're better defensively when Rudy is on the floor this season than without, but we're also worse offensively. More importantly, we're barely over .500. I understand wanting to embrace Rudy given what the Wolves gave up for him and what they pay him. So we can keep citing a defensive stat as part of rationalizing a trade that so far hasn't worked. While the win % may not prove the team is worse with Rudy than without him, there is no evidence that he helps this team win. Bottom line is that this team is struggling to stay above .500 with four of our five starters playing almost every game - including Edwards and two max players one of whom is Rudy Gobert. Something's not right with this team and it's not just KAT's injury. I wouldn't say Rudy makes the team worse. He just doesn't make us better or at least doesn't have an impact that justifies what the Wolves gave up to get him or what they are committed to pay him over four years as he continues to advance into his 30s.

The Wolves could end up a 4th seed and advance in the playoffs this season. As I've said, it's that happens I'll be satisfied with the team even though I still won't like the trade. But I fear this team is headed for a lower seed and a first-round exit. If that happens as I expect it will, then something has to change and I think it's the roster, not the head coach, although it could be both. In my view that means moving on from Rudy or KAT. My preference would be moving on from Rudy and getting as much in return as possible, understanding that we won't get nearly as much as we gave up. Hanging on to Naz helps the team win this season and provides some insurance in the event the Wolves decide to move Rudy or KAT next summer. That's the only point I was making.

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

Referring to my previous post about Naz Reid and what he wants on his next deal ($10M AAV), I think it's pretty reasonable. He's surely playing at or around that level and has been critical given the injury issues Karl-Anthony Towns and Rudy Gobert have dealt with this season.

I projected him to sign for four-years, $35M ($8.75M AAV) this summer. Perhaps both sides would compromise at three-years, $30M ($10M AAV) with a team option on the fourth year, assuming they couldn't get him to sign a more team-friendly deal. Reid would concede the fourth year guarantee that most young free agents desire, but locks in a higher AAV that he desires.

If it's a 3-year $30 million deal with a player option on the 4th, then the Wolves should forget about trading Naz and sign him as soon as they can. He's a terrific backup center with the potential to be more. Meanwhile, I don't trust Rudy's fit for this team or KAT's ability to stay on the court. I never thought I'd think that about KAT, who was an iron man his first 4 seasons. But things have sure gone south for him from a resiliency standpoint. Maybe he'll be back to his old self after he's back from this calf injury, but I'm not holding my breath. I still maintain that the Wolves will need to move Rudy or KAT at some point in next year or so. Given that expectation, I'd like to have Naz in the fold.

Just to be clear, I haven't seen any specific reporting that indicates the length of contract that Naz Reid or the Timberwolves want to get done. I'm merely speculating based on Reid's age (23) and stature in the NBA to this point. It's entirely possible that Reid or the organization want a shorter deal for different reasons, though I would find that unlikely.

With that said, I do think that a three-year, $30M deal with a team option on a fourth year makes sense for both sides. Minnesota should do nearly everything in their power to retain the talent they currently have, especially on a manageable contract near the mid-level exception, and Reid is plenty deserving of financial security with a high-quality lifestyle -- something he hasn't really achieved the Sachin Gupta deal he signed as an undrafted free agent. Secure the bag when you can as a young player. Don't ask Shabazz Muhammad and Dennis Schroder for advice.

However, I'm surprised that Reid and his representatives don't appear to be more interested in testing free agency at this point given how his season has gone as a spot starter. There could be better situations for him to join, have a bigger role, and parlay that into a more lucrative payday down the road. I'm curious if we're approaching a manufactured deadline on these negotiations, similar to how it was with Jalen Brunson and the Mavericks a year ago. At some point, the team and/or agency are going to agree that a deal can't be worked out and free agency is the desired route. My guess is that clock is ticking quickly.

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

My issue with Rudy Gobert in Minnesota so far, especially as it pertains to the massive trade to acquire him, is that while he's still an impactful player on the defensive end, as kek notes, he is no longer the consistently dominant and generational force that he was in Utah -- not even close. Some of that is definitely on how he's used in this system, and some of it is on teammates still adjusting to him, but a lot of it is that Gobert's ability is simply declining. I don't think he's provided the same level of resistance defensively that he did with the Jazz, evident by most of his advanced metrics trending downward this year. I'm also left in shock when I see his nonexistent coordination around the rim offensively. I don't believe I've ever seen a player his size look so uncomfortable with the ball in the restricted area. He also doesn't win enough contested rebounds given the length advantage he often has, which makes him more of a good rebounder than a great rebounder, but that's piling on a bit.

To be clear, Gobert's decline means he's gone from being an annual Defensive Player of the Year front-runner to merely being a really good team defender. It's just a different impact entirely and not what the Timberwolves traded for. My hope is that even a reduced version of Gobert is enough to help propel this team towards contention, and his presence has helped keep the team afloat with Karl-Anthony Towns' sidelined to injury, but expectations for him individually may need to be tempered a bit.

[Monster]

The rest of the big men floating around the deadline have been reserves such as Serge Ibaka, Andre Drummond, Richaun Holmes, Mo Bamba, Jaxson Hayes and Nerlens Noel. The name to keep an eye on most may be Timberwolves center Naz Reid, who has declined varied contract extension offers from Minnesota, sources told Yahoo Sports, and is said to be seeking salary in the ballpark of $10 million next season. While the Wolves have clearly shown interest in retaining Reid, Minnesota already has a mountain of money committed to Karl-Anthony Towns and Rudy Gobert, plus the Wolves seem unlikely to be able to afford both Reid and guard Jaylen Nowell at the price points each player desires.

Link: https://sports.yahoo.com/lakers-still-exploring-ways-to-improve-with-potential-russell-westbrook-deal-174912465.html

My question: is Naz declining because the Wolves aren't offering enough money or because he wants a larger role for the same kind of money? If Naz wants 10 million a year and wants to come back o the Wolves I'd sign him to the extension and figure things out later. It looks like the Wolves would be able to offer a figure in that ballpark based on what I read in the CBA FAQ. Interestingly I learned that when a player signs an extension if they have incentives in that deal they must carry over in the extension. That's why Prince still has those incentives in his deal.

I read some about extend and sign which apparently is really rare only Melo and KG have done it. I thought it would be interesting if the team acquiring Naz in a trade knew they would have him locked in for say 10 million or so years for 3 years. 3 years is the most years that can be offered in an extend and trade. Not sure if a high enough salary can be worked into a an extend and trade to make that a legit option. Regardless if Naz already has a contract number in mind and that's communicated throughout the league that could increase his value on the trade market depending by on how teams value him. If a team that wants him and is limited by being over the cap next offseason but feels pretty confident they can resign Naz to a reasonable number that may lead them to offer up something pretty good. Again if the Wolves can simply resign Naz to what I consider a perfectly reasonable deal I would probably rather do that especially since we could keep him for this season. Utah at one point had a bunch of bigs and they didn't shy away from continuing to add to them. Naz took a step forward this season and is 23. What if he keeps improving?

[Wolvesfan21]

Lip will still be angry if the Wolves win a Championship with Gobert. lol