Minnesota Sports Forum

Naz keeps getting better and better. He really may need more PT.

Not sure what to think about Naz.

He's a guy whose got similar size/length to Bam Adebayo and Kevon Looney. Athletically, he seems more quick and mobile than Looney, less so than Bam. And finally, his offensive repertoire is ahead of both these guys.

Yet despite having what looks like similar size and length as two recent Finals starting Centers, he seems to get overwhelmed and overpowered in the paint at times, often toppling over or getting shoved aside for rebounds. Not sure why at times he seems so weak and easily moved, yet Looney and Bam are these paint stalwarts that are not so easily moved off their spot despite not being giants.

Bottom line....I'm still worried about his ability to rebound and defend the paint, but there is no question he puts together some really impressive stints at times.

Q-was-here wrote:Not sure what to think about Naz.

He's a guy whose got similar size/length to Bam Adebayo and Kevon Looney. Athletically, he seems more quick and mobile than Looney, less so than Bam. And finally, his offensive repertoire is ahead of both these guys.

Yet despite having what looks like similar size and length as two recent Finals starting Centers, he seems to get overwhelmed and overpowered in the paint at times, often toppling over or getting shoved aside for rebounds. Not sure why at times he seems so weak and easily moved, yet Looney and Bam are these paint stalwarts that are not so easily moved off their spot despite not being giants.

Bottom line....I'm still worried about his ability to rebound and defend the paint, but there is no question he puts together some really impressive stints at times.

Interesting comparison to Bam and Looney. I agree it's perplexing that Bam and Looney are paint stalwarts while Naz is not. Maybe it's just a function of basic physical core strength. I'd like to think that Naz (or Knight) could develop the physicality to defense better in the paint. They're both still young. But so far I haven't seen it. Nevertheless, I love their quickness, skill set and mobility on the offensive end as well as their ability to close out to the perimeter defensively.

lipoli390 wrote:

Q-was-here wrote:Not sure what to think about Naz.

He's a guy whose got similar size/length to Bam Adebayo and Kevon Looney. Athletically, he seems more quick and mobile than Looney, less so than Bam. And finally, his offensive repertoire is ahead of both these guys.

Yet despite having what looks like similar size and length as two recent Finals starting Centers, he seems to get overwhelmed and overpowered in the paint at times, often toppling over or getting shoved aside for rebounds. Not sure why at times he seems so weak and easily moved, yet Looney and Bam are these paint stalwarts that are not so easily moved off their spot despite not being giants.

Bottom line....I'm still worried about his ability to rebound and defend the paint, but there is no question he puts together some really impressive stints at times.

Interesting comparison to Bam and Looney. I agree it's perplexing that Bam and Looney are paint stalwarts while Naz is not. Maybe it's just a function of basic physical core strength. I'd like to think that Naz (or Knight) could develop the physicality to defense better in the paint. They're both still young. But so far I haven't seen it. Nevertheless, I love their quickness, skill set and mobility on the offensive end as well as their ability to close out to the perimeter defensively.

I don't know how strong Naz will ever play but he looks like he plays with more of it in his way this season is the games I have watched. Meanwhile the idea of comparing him athletically to Bam a couple years ago would have been laughable and now it isn't. Naz has worked really hard and also may have had the right people hiding him in how he should get to where he is. One of the things that probably hurt Town development at least a little bit has been him sort of doing different things to get the most out of his body. For a couple years he gained weight/bulk or whatever and I'm not sure that helped. I think he is now going for a slimmer bike since he is playing more as a PF and probably even at C they will want him to play more mobile. Towns never has seemed like a guy that gets the most out of his physical attributes it's more how skilled he is. I think he has made some progress there but it's not a strength for him as a basketball player.

Which brings me back to Naz Reid. He turns 24 a few weeks before next season. This is his 4th year in the league after 1 season in college that went ok. He has gotten an opportunity with the Wolves but he hasn't just been handed minutes. I think he is a guy that still COULD develop further and I don't think I am being a Naz homer unthinking that.

Lip mentioned Knight. I think one issue with Knight is that when he is playing D he doesn't always play or end up being tall. That limits his rim protection. He does have pretty good mobility and like I said in the Bulls game thread he does have a more solid thick base to work with. He good and bad is that he does a lot of what he does fast. Knight and Nowell do a lot of stuff at a speed most players don't do. Obviously on offense Nowell can shift gears with the ball but it's fun to watch those guys and it injects some energy into the Wolves that's needed.

What would you want for Naz right now? It seems like he can get to the rim at will on his drive and step through.

It sort of sucks that this will be Naz last year with the wolves. He made very nice improvements this year. Good for him

thedoper wrote:What would you want for Naz right now? It seems like he can get to the rim at will on his drive and step through.

I'd want for Naz Reid to sign an extension during the season and avoid heading to unrestricted free agency. That might not be realistic at this point, though. The following is a range of bigs and the contracts that they signed that I think set the market for him.

- Kevon Looney: Signed three-year, $15.0M contract ($5.0M AAV)
- Ivica Zubac: Signed four-year, $28.5M contract ($7.1M AAV)
- Zach Collins: Signed three-year, $22.1M contract ($7.4M AAV)
- Isaiah Hartenstein: Signed two-year, $16.0M contract ($8.0M AAV)
- Daniel Theis: Signed four-year, $35.6M contract ($8.9M AAV)
- Maxi Kleber: Signed four-year, $35.9M contract ($9.0M AAV)
- Nerlens Noel: Signed three-year, $27.7M contract ($9.2M AAV)
- Marvin Bagley Jr.: Signed three-year, $37.5M contract ($12.5M AAV)
- Brandon Clarke: Signed four-year, $52M contract ($12.5M AAV)

Given that range, I think Reid is deserving around the $9.0M AAV mark. I'd probably hope to get him for what Noel got -- three-year, $28.0M deal. Maybe you get a team option on that third year.

I just can't see Naz resigning with the wolves. Naz is the 3rd center on this specific roster and Naz PF lineups have been really really bad for the wolves.

I would love Naz back but I would be shocked to see it. Assuming they don't trade Kat

kekgeek1 wrote:I just can't see Naz resigning with the wolves. Naz is the 3rd center on this specific roster and Naz PF lineups have been really really bad for the wolves.

I would love Naz back but I would be shocked to see it. Assuming they don't trade Kat

That's probably right, though Minnesota does have his Bird Rights and could splurge for him if they felt it was necessary. Personally, I think it is necessary to keep him. At this point, he's a legitimate asset and letting him walk for nothing would be poor management -- even if they decide to move him (or another big) down the line. They could also use another tradable mid-level salary on the books.

Camden wrote:

kekgeek1 wrote:I just can't see Naz resigning with the wolves. Naz is the 3rd center on this specific roster and Naz PF lineups have been really really bad for the wolves.

I would love Naz back but I would be shocked to see it. Assuming they don't trade Kat

That's probably right, though Minnesota does have his Bird Rights and could splurge for him if they felt it was necessary. Personally, I think it is necessary to keep him. At this point, he's a legitimate asset and letting him walk for nothing would be poor management -- even if they decide to move him (or another big) down the line. They could also use another tradable mid-level salary on the books.

They should absolutely re-sign Naz. Will he want to stay here as a 3rd center? No. But I'll remain the lone wolf on this board in thinking we should trade Gobert either by the Feb. deadline or after the season. What we've seen the past three games is what we saw the second half of last season, except that Edwards, McDaniels and especially Naz are all better. Our defense has been solid in two of these past three games - as good as it's been with Gobert playing - and we've been rebounding better overall as a team. An alternative would be trading KAT after the season. I'd be reluctant to trade the second perennial all-star in the history of this franchise who has never threatened to leave and who is at the front end of the prime years of his career. But we could get ton in return for him and move forward with Rudy, Naz, Knight and Garza as our bigs.