BlacJacMac wrote:Klomp wrote:I want Naz back, but I'm not sure if I'm ready to anoint him as a starter yet.
I get why people want him to start, but I don't know if it's in the team's best interest. I put his role like a Lou Williams, a Jamal Crawford, a Jordan Clarkson. His game isn't well-rounded enough to be vaulted into a second or third option in the starting lineup, which is what would happen here if he was inserted into the starting lineup next year. He would be the second or third option behind Ant and possibly Jaden. I don't think that's enough offensive firepower.
That's the importance of holding on to Randle, or replacing him with another form of offensive firepower. This is where I still think a Kevin Durant option carries some credibility, as long as McDaniels and Reid aren't sacrificed in the process. Practically anyone else could be fair game theoretically.
100%.
Naz is "instant offense" off the bench. But he doesn't provide nearly enough to be a starter if he's not scoring at a good clip. He's a guy that should get 30 minutes if his shot is falling and 10-15 if it isn't.
One variable I really wish I had more clarity on before making any Naz Reid–related decisions is Rob Dillingham. Let me explain.
Here was my checklist for Rob in his rookie season:
- Stay healthy – Not done (had multiple minor injuries throughout the season)
- Improve his body – Not done (see above)
- Buy into defensive identity – In progress, but he has shown effort, quickness, and willingness to compete
- Show signs of playmaking – Not done (Finch recently said Rob needs to involve his teammates more)
- Show shot creation and scoring ability – In progress, and he’s shown a lot of positive flashes
- Finish at the rim – In progress, also some encouraging signs
- Hit open 3s – In progress, but he regressed a lot in the second half of the season
- Play off the ball – Still unclear. I honestly don’t remember him coming off screens much. But to be fair, this might be a system-wide issue — neither DDV, Reid, nor Edwards consistently operate as off-ball scorers like Malik Beasley used to. Though to be fair, both DDV and Reid did show flashes of it during the regular season.
So, at this point, I can only guess what kind of role Rob will be given next season — and what direction the staff wants to take his development.
Here are some possible paths:
- Instant bench scorer? Then his role might overlap with Naz Reid’s. That could actually open minutes for someone like Jaylen Clark as a defensive 3&D complement next to Rob, who would carry the load as a ballhandler and creator.
- Off-ball scorer? That would be similar to Malik Beasley’s role — but it requires a true facilitator next to Rob.
The ideal archetype for a second unit could be something like McLaughlin–Nowell–Beasley: ballhandler / slasher–midrange scorer / high-volume shooter.
That’s what DDV was supposed to be as a backup combo guard — but it hasn’t worked, mostly because MIN doesn’t have a quality backup PG.
- Backup PG? Then it becomes easier for DDV to slide into the high-volume off-ball shooter role.
The truth is, Rob’s development path is still unclear from the outside — but I really hope that within the front office and coaching staff, there’s a working hypothesis about what role he’s being groomed for in Year 2.
Which brings me back to Naz Reid.
One thing I find concerning is the potential combination of:
- Reid’s inconsistent defense and tendency to commit unnecessary fouls (he is always in foul trouble in playoffs)
- Rob giving up size on almost every matchup (requires and lot of proactive team actions, such as pre-switching, communications and defensive decision making)
That combo could be tough to hide defensively — unless both Rob and Naz are putting up 20+ PPG and making the offense so explosive that you just live with the tradeoffs.
