Yeaz or Naez? Vote on MIN’s Best Course for Naz Reid

[shrink]

Minnesota has a decision to make with Naz Reid. Picked up undrafted, he has continuously improved to become a legitimate rotation player. He has averaged about 10 PPG and shot 34% from 3P for his career, but his minutes have always been limited playing almost solely as Karl-Anthony Towns back up. When Towns has missed time (recently in the health and safety protocols), Naz has looked just fine, providing MIN with a floor spreading 5, who has become an effective pick-and-roll player as well.

Back when Rosas initially signed him, he locked Reid into the Hinkie special - four years on a minimum deal, each year a team option. As you know, if the Wolves exercise the final team option, Reid will become a UFA. If MIN declines their team option, Reid becomes an RFA.

Which course of action do you think is best for the Wolves?

[HornetJail]

seems like a decent enough backup that shouldn't break the bank. let him hit RFA next season. Maybe you end up with another Vanderbilt steal of a contract

[Godaddycurse]

I mean their franchise player is a 5. I dont think they should break the bank (ie MLE or more) on extending him. Use him up for 2 more cheap years or trade him imo

[Texas Chuck]

I ride out the final cheap year as well. Hard to imagine a world where his market even reaches the full MLE much less exceeds it so if Minny wants to retain him, they can just "overpay" to do so. I wouldn't worry about the need of the restricted rights and force myself to pay him a year early.

[winforlose]

I think Naz gets between 8-12 probably closer to 10.5 to be starting center for a team like Portland, OKC, ect… The numbers on Naz as a starter or when he gets 20+ minutes a game are much better than the numbers from games where he gets less than 20. Moreover, when KAT is out for a stretch and Naz gets consistent usage that also ups his numbers. So between foul trouble, Covid, and injuries that befell KAT these last few years, Naz has shown his true value. I fear we cannot afford both him and Nowell and an impact player we trade for, so we move Naz to get that impact player.

[SmokeyPaw]

I like Reid, he fits the wolvrs well, but there's a limit to how much I'd pay for 15 minutes a night. I'm fine with picking up his option this summer. But if someone values him more ( bigger role), you explore a trade.

[pacers33granger]

seems like a decent enough backup that shouldn't break the bank. let him hit RFA next season. Maybe you end up with another Vanderbilt steal of a contract

Agreed. He's made himself into a solid player, but he's not a starting level player. And those types of guys just typically do not get paid that much. Maybe some team will look at his age and believe in his longterm potential enough to overpay. I'd take that gamble though.

[HartfordWhalers]

Minnesota has a decision to make with Naz Reid. Picked up undrafted, he has continuously improved to become a legitimate rotation player. He has averaged about 10 PPG and shot 34% from 3P for his career, but his minutes have always been limited playing almost solely as Karl-Anthony Towns back up. When Towns has missed time (recently in the health and safety protocols), Naz has looked just fine, providing MIN with a floor spreading 5, who has become an effective pick-and-roll player as well.

Back when Rosas initially signed him, he locked Reid into the Hinkie special - four years on a minimum deal, each year a team option. As you know, if the Wolves exercise the final team option, Reid will become a UFA. If MIN declines their team option, Reid becomes an RFA.

Which course of action do you think is best for the Wolves?

Going to give you a new option. Pick up the option and enter extension talks immediately, which allow basically MLE money to be tacked on for additional years.

Monte Morris was in a similar spot for Denver (perhaps more regarded) and that is what they did. If Reid's camp sees more money out there that doesn't work, but I think you can lock him in with what is allowed, and thus you have the cheap year next year and conversely he gets more salary certainty.

[babyjax13]

I think someone will want Naz as their starter. He is a center who hits threes and blocks some shots, not many of those around. He'd certainly be a lower-caliber starting center, but lots of championship teams get away with that and I think someone will decide he's just a really good fit for them.

[Ballerhogger]

Ride him out or trade him for mid-late first now . Wolves are in 9th place if they fall out before deadline sell

[shrink]

Minnesota has a decision to make with Naz Reid. Picked up undrafted, he has continuously improved to become a legitimate rotation player. He has averaged about 10 PPG and shot 34% from 3P for his career, but his minutes have always been limited playing almost solely as Karl-Anthony Towns back up. When Towns has missed time (recently in the health and safety protocols), Naz has looked just fine, providing MIN with a floor spreading 5, who has become an effective pick-and-roll player as well.

Back when Rosas initially signed him, he locked Reid into the Hinkie special - four years on a minimum deal, each year a team option. As you know, if the Wolves exercise the final team option, Reid will become a UFA. If MIN declines their team option, Reid becomes an RFA.

Which course of action do you think is best for the Wolves?

Going to give you a new option. Pick up the option and enter extension talks immediately, which allow basically MLE money to be tacked on for additional years.

Monte Morris was in a similar spot for Denver (perhaps more regarded) and that is what they did. If Reid's camp sees more money out there that doesn't work, but I think you can lock him in with what is allowed, and thus you have the cheap year next year and conversely he gets more salary certainty.

I like this one a lot!

Obviously it’s nice for the team to get an extra discount year on a decent player. However, I imagine if a team forces a player like this to play for less than he’s worth, and also with no security for the future if he gets hurt, it’d make him hate management and unlikely to sign if he’s a UFA. By taking the year, but offering him the security of an extension, you may get multiple years that are still under market, whether you keep Naz or trade him later to a team that would want him as a low-end starter.

[NebWolvesFan]

I think a lot of Reid's current value is based upon his cheap team option for next year. If you acquire him now, you get 110 games at less than 4 million. That's pennies in the NBA. I would be fine with Minnesota adding him to a trade package and then signing Knight to the similar 4-year contract Reid signed. Start over the clock with another young bench big.

[wolves_89]

Minnesota has a decision to make with Naz Reid. Picked up undrafted, he has continuously improved to become a legitimate rotation player. He has averaged about 10 PPG and shot 34% from 3P for his career, but his minutes have always been limited playing almost solely as Karl-Anthony Towns back up. When Towns has missed time (recently in the health and safety protocols), Naz has looked just fine, providing MIN with a floor spreading 5, who has become an effective pick-and-roll player as well.

Back when Rosas initially signed him, he locked Reid into the Hinkie special - four years on a minimum deal, each year a team option. As you know, if the Wolves exercise the final team option, Reid will become a UFA. If MIN declines their team option, Reid becomes an RFA.

Which course of action do you think is best for the Wolves?

Going to give you a new option. Pick up the option and enter extension talks immediately, which allow basically MLE money to be tacked on for additional years.

Monte Morris was in a similar spot for Denver (perhaps more regarded) and that is what they did. If Reid's camp sees more money out there that doesn't work, but I think you can lock him in with what is allowed, and thus you have the cheap year next year and conversely he gets more salary certainty.

I had two questions with this option. First, is there a time limit on when an extension would have to be finalized, or would an extension be possible at any point in the 2022-23 season? Second, if traded after picking up the option, would the acquiring team be able to extend Naz?