Who would you rather extend Naz or Randle (same money)

[Q-is-here]

By the way, defense is a team activity, and having good defensive teammates improves everyone’s numbers.

Here are last year’s league leaders in Defensive Rating

1. Rudy Gobert • MIN 104.5
2. Victor Wembanyama • SAS 105.8
3. Naz Reid • MIN 107.4
4. Nikola Jokić • DEN 108.0
5. Isaiah Hartenstein • NYK 108.1
6. Jusuf Nurkić • PHO 108.3
7. Chet Holmgren • OKC 108.4
8. Bam Adebayo • MIA 108.5
9. Evan Mobley • CLE 108.6
10. Kristaps Porziņģis • BOS 108.6
11. Karl-Anthony Towns • MIN 108.7
12. Kyle Anderson • MIN 109.0
13. Anthony Davis • LAL 109.2
14. Anthony Edwards • MIN 109.6
15. Paul Reed • PHI 109.8

Exactly. Now let's say Rudy wasn't on the team and Naz was our starting Center with Randle at PF and both were playing 30+ MPG. Everyone's defensive rating on the team would skyrocket (going up being bad of course!).

(defensive estimated plus-minus - or d-epm for short - tries to isolate the individual better and in that metric Naz is in the 36th percentile).

[Monster]

Naz is 25 and seems to improve every year. Let's say he was gonna get paid like 32 million that might be overpaying but would you want to pay Randle that much? Maybe. I mean if the team didn't have Naz keeping Randle would make a lot more sense. Randle turned 30 a couple months ago. It's not like he is 35. Do I want to bank on him being good for the next 3 years over keeping Naz? Not really.

As someone else pointed out Randle has struggled in the playoffs and Reid has been solid although their roles were obviously very different.

Randle has a capability to be a guy that's a compliment to other players and be valuable but to some extent that's going to depend on the roster around him and coaching. Naz is also unique but I think he is easier to work around especially on offense. Randle needs shooting around him and some guys that don't need the ball. Even though he can create and do stuff as an offer eive player he shouldn't be the 2nd most used player unless MAYBE the team was all shooters. Ideally there was another offensive player that was scoring and or distributing. In theory Dillingham is that guy and he is a really good 3 point shooter.

[Lipoli390]

I'd say Randle is a better shot creator and play maker than Naz, but Naz is the better overall fit for the team.

As for defense, I think Naz's defensive rating has always benefited a bit by coming off the bench or starting next to Rudy. I think they are about the same defensively, which is neutral to slightly negative.

How about Randle’s far worse defensive rating starting next to Rudy?

[Lipoli390]

By the way, defense is a team activity, and having good defensive teammates improves everyone’s numbers.

Here are last year’s league leaders in Defensive Rating

1. Rudy Gobert • MIN 104.5
2. Victor Wembanyama • SAS 105.8
3. Naz Reid • MIN 107.4
4. Nikola Jokić • DEN 108.0
5. Isaiah Hartenstein • NYK 108.1
6. Jusuf Nurkić • PHO 108.3
7. Chet Holmgren • OKC 108.4
8. Bam Adebayo • MIA 108.5
9. Evan Mobley • CLE 108.6
10. Kristaps Porziņģis • BOS 108.6
11. Karl-Anthony Towns • MIN 108.7
12. Kyle Anderson • MIN 109.0
13. Anthony Davis • LAL 109.2
14. Anthony Edwards • MIN 109.6
15. Paul Reed • PHI 109.8

Exactly. Now let's say Rudy wasn't on the team and Naz was our starting Center with Randle at PF and both were playing 30+ MPG. Everyone's defensive rating on the team would skyrocket (going up being bad of course!).

(defensive estimated plus-minus - or d-epm for short - tries to isolate the individual better and in that metric Naz is in the 36th percentile).

Remember that we’re comparing Naz to Randle. Both get substantial minutes playing with Rudy and Jaden. I haven’t looked but I suspect that a bigger percentage of Randle’s minutes are with Rudy on the court. The data tell us that Naz is a significantly better defender than Randle.

[AbeVigodaLive]

I'm NOT a Julius Randle fan. And he has one of the worst playoff resumes you'll ever find for an All NBA player. But there might be some extenuating circumstances.

He was TERRIBLE in 2021 over 5 games, shooting only 29.8%. As we know, teams can load up on certain players in the playoffs and that appears to be what Atlanta did with Randle, who didn't answer the bell in his first trip to the postseason. Here's who ATL left to focus on Randle...

Derrick Rose
RJ Barrett
Reggie Bullock
Taj Gibson
Nerlens Noel

Now, Randle's 29.8% definitely doesn't age well... but neither did his fellow starters. Yikes. How did that team go 41 - 31 that season?

Randle made the playoffs again in 2023 with a more legit supporting cast. Jalen Brunson was now THE guy and the Knicks made the 2nd rd despite Randle sucking again, only not quite as bad. Turns out though... Randle played injured. After playing the first 77 games, Randle missed the last 5 games of the regular season with a bum ankle. Then, he injured it again in the playoffs and played anyway. He had surgery on the ankle after the playoffs.

Still a terrible resume, only adding a bit of context.

[60WinTim]

I'm NOT a Julius Randle fan. And he has one of the worst playoff resumes you'll ever find for an All NBA player. But there might be some extenuating circumstances.

He was TERRIBLE in 2021 over 5 games, shooting only 29.8%. As we know, teams can load up on certain players in the playoffs and that appears to be what Atlanta did with Randle, who didn't answer the bell in his first trip to the postseason. Here's who ATL left to focus on Randle...

Derrick Rose
RJ Barrett
Reggie Bullock
Taj Gibson
Nerlens Noel

Now, Randle's 29.8% definitely doesn't age well... but neither did his fellow starters. Yikes. How did that team go 41 - 31 that season?

Randle made the playoffs again in 2023 with a more legit supporting cast. Jalen Brunson was now THE guy and the Knicks made the 2nd rd despite Randle sucking again, only not quite as bad. Turns out though... Randle played injured. After playing the first 77 games, Randle missed the last 5 games of the regular season with a bum ankle. Then, he injured it again in the playoffs and played anyway. He had surgery on the ankle after the playoffs.

Still a terrible resume, only adding a bit of context.

Thanks, Abe. I'm going to need this kind of "excuse propaganda" if Randle is still on the roster after today...

[TheGrey08]

Naz over Randle and it’s not even close:

1. Naz is younger with remaining upside while Randle is what he is as he approaches the downslope of his career.

2. While Randle is a terrific scorer, Naz is the overall better offensive player. Naz has a more versatile offensive game with a uniquely broad offensive skill set. He has the ball handling, quickness and fluidity of a SF in a PF’s body. He’s quick to the hole and an excellent finisher when he gets there. And he’s also a terrific three-point shooter.

3. Naz’s offensive versatility and style of play, as well as his age, make him a much better fit with our young core of Ant and Jaden.

4. Naz is the better defensive player. This season, Naz has a defensive rating of 109.7, which is 21st in the League overall. In contrast, Randle has a defensive rating of 112.3, which ranks him 39th in the League. Similarly, last season Naz had a defensive rating of 107.3 compared to Randle’s 114.2.

5. Naz’s teammates, especially our franchise player Ant, love him and I don’t see the same love for Randle (to say the least). Chemistry matters in the NBA and making you franchise player happy matters even more.

The only area in which Randle is clearly better is rebounding. I still think Naz, just like Jaden recently, can significantly improve in that area.

Agreed, it's not even close as to who is better for the team. Naz by a mile.

[Monster]

I'm NOT a Julius Randle fan. And he has one of the worst playoff resumes you'll ever find for an All NBA player. But there might be some extenuating circumstances.

He was TERRIBLE in 2021 over 5 games, shooting only 29.8%. As we know, teams can load up on certain players in the playoffs and that appears to be what Atlanta did with Randle, who didn't answer the bell in his first trip to the postseason. Here's who ATL left to focus on Randle...

Derrick Rose
RJ Barrett
Reggie Bullock
Taj Gibson
Nerlens Noel

Now, Randle's 29.8% definitely doesn't age well... but neither did his fellow starters. Yikes. How did that team go 41 - 31 that season?

Randle made the playoffs again in 2023 with a more legit supporting cast. Jalen Brunson was now THE guy and the Knicks made the 2nd rd despite Randle sucking again, only not quite as bad. Turns out though... Randle played injured. After playing the first 77 games, Randle missed the last 5 games of the regular season with a bum ankle. Then, he injured it again in the playoffs and played anyway. He had surgery on the ankle after the playoffs.

Still a terrible resume, only adding a bit of context.

Thanks, Abe. I'm going to need this kind of "excuse propaganda" if Randle is still on the roster after today...

That first playoff appearance was also with that kinda bizarre situation where Thibs played a pretty different lineup than what they played a significant portion of the season. That could have affected Randle. It did seem like an excellent regular season coaching job by Thibs. That team was 3rd in defensive rating with Randle easily leading the team in minutes played. Randle's playoff struggles is and has been the biggest worry about him. If the Wolves make the playoffs and he is healthy and plays reasonably well...that could make things interesting.