by It’s fairly easy. Until the NBA Trade Deadline hits on February 9, hypothesis goes to run rampant, and the Minnesota Timberwolves aren’t any exception to that rule.
There are wherever from 4-5 gamers which can be speculated on probably being moved, and amongst the gamers that appear to be excessive on that hierarchy is Nazreon Hilton Reid, in any other case often called Naz Reid.
Every time I’ve seen Jaden McDaniels exit the locker room, he seems at Naz Reid with a straight face, says, “Naz Reid,” then walks away.
Asked Naz Reid if that is a continuing: “Every single time.” Even on the courtroom.
— Jace frederick (@JaceFrederick) January 20, 2023
As we pointed out earlier in the week and been a conversation piece recently is the multitude of causes that make a Naz commerce the almost certainly of the group to get traded round the deadline.
- His contract expires at the finish of the season, and the wage/roster development scenario the Wolves at the moment face doesn’t make it conducive to maintain him on the crew.
- He’s performed nicely, however would probably face a heavy minutes discount upon the Karl-Anthony Towns return in the case he does not get traded and stays on the crew. Naz is objectively superior and deserves an opportunity to play himself right into a payday.
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There’s a transparent market for Reid, which advantages the little leverage Minnesota has. In this case, the extra competitors the higher.
Personally, I believe Naz could be a fantastic commerce piece paired with a Jaylen Nowell or D’Angelo Russell, however it would depend upon the transfer the Wolves need to make. At this level, I’m not extremely certain how a lot Tim Connelly is inclined to maneuver D-Lo along with his current uptick in productiveness off the ball. Would the return for him in the type of one other max slot match his manufacturing and capacity to shoot the basketball that has at occasions saved this crew afloat? I’m not so certain.
Personally, I might lean in the direction of partnering him with Jaylen Nowell in a deal and seeing if there’s a participant with a 4 million greenback vary that might be intriguing with a change of surroundings. It might yield some further draft capital as nicely, and pave the manner for a youthful participant like Josh Minott to a be a extra full-time member of the NBA crew.
I’m simply not fully bought by the earlier report of Terance Mann. He’s a wonderful participant and would appear to be an overpay on the a part of the Los Angeles Clippers. There has been rumored interest by the Brooklyn Nets as nicely, however I’m unsure if there’s a cope with the Nets that exists that will be mutually useful.
Yuta Watanabe is an identical contract and could be a pleasant match, however his position with Brooklyn and his quiet, but essential emergence as a high quality rotation participant and additionally expiring deal would in all probability make it a zero-win for both facet.
All to say, If Naz is used as a chunk in a multi-player deal, I might lean in the direction of the desire of a transfer on the margins and making an attempt to get a pair future picks, versus pairing him up for a seismic D-Lo transfer.
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Where there’s smoke, there’s in all probability not less than a little bit of fireplace.
Late Friday afternoon delivered the second report, this time from Jake Fischer and Yahoo Sports speculating on Tim Connelly’s hyperlink to Nuggets combo guard Bones Hyland.
Hyland was additionally synonymous with the earlier week report of the Denver Nuggets curiosity in Naz Reid, with their contracts additionally matching up. However, a little bit bit extra of a peak behind the curtain was provided to the Nugget intentions, with Fischer saying the Nuggets are eyeing a defensive-minded frontcourt participant along with a first-round choose.
Hyland is an electrical participant when he’s on that brings plenty of vitality. But Reid isn’t what I might name a defensive-minded frontcourt participant, and I don’t know if the Wolves can afford to surrender additional draft capital at this level.
I don’t query how efficient Hyland could be, however I believe taking part in subsequent to the reigning MVP and 2022-23 MVP favourite Nikola Jokic can release plenty of house as a scorer, and Hyland isn’t essentially the most effective participant west of the Mississippi. His two-man net rating next to Jokic is one in every of the decrease ones amongst the constant gamers that Joker performs subsequent to.
All to say my important query is how that interprets to Minnesota. How a lot completely different would his play look in a Wolves uniform than Jaylen Nowell? If you’re giving up draft capital at this level, you need to make certain. And I’m not so certain at this level.
