You can have too much of a good thing. Pizza is great, but if you eat a whole large one to yourself, you’re going to have some regrets. An NBA team can have too much of a good thing as well.
When a team has too many good players at the same position, it can pose problems. They can’t find minutes for all of them. It may be a positionless league, but if players don’t have complementary skillsets, they still won’t share the floor. This is a problem that the Minnesota Timberwolves will have to deal with this season.
They’ve got too many quality big men. The Wolves already start a pair of them. Unfortunately, Rudy Gobert and Karl-Anthony Towns had trouble sharing the floor together last season. With Naz Reid on the bench, the Wolves have a lot of cap space and rotation minutes tied to big men. Could they send Reid to the Los Angeles Lakers this season as a result?
The Trade Proposal
Minnesota Timberwolves Receive: G/F Gabe Vincent, G/F Cam Reddish
Los Angeles Lakers Receive: F/C Naz Reid
With that said – it is a positionless league. Are we being overly pessimistic? Is it possible that this could work after all?
Reid is a combo big. He can play the 4 or the 5. His ability to stretch the floor makes him a viable fit alongside Gobert. Meanwhile, Reid isn’t an elite defender, but he’s functional enough as a weak side shot blocker to function alongside Towns. This could work – couldn’t it?
NBA TRADES, NEWS & RUMORS: Naz Reid, Los Angeles Lakers & Minnesota Timberwolves Updates
We’re not sure. It feels like we’re rationalizing. The Wolves are likely to be slow by virtue of roster construction. Moreover, time with Jaden McDaniels at the 4 is likely to be optimal on the defensive end of the floor. This could work – but it might not be best. Does this deal give the Wolves a better roster construction?
Why The Minnesota Timberwolves Do The Deal
We certainly think so. Granted, some will suggest that the Wolves have bigger fish to fry. They can move Reid, but they’ll still need to tend to the fit between Gobert and Towns.
Sure. So, this deal isn’t a catch-all solution to their problems. That doesn’t mean that it’s not worth making. The Wolves would be clearing up their logjam with more than enough frontcourt talent left over. Meanwhile, Vincent is an ideal low-usage, floor-spacing guard for this roster. Taking a flier on Reddish doesn’t hurt either.
NBA TRADES, NEWS & RUMORS: Naz Reid, Los Angeles Lakers & Minnesota Timberwolves Updates
The Wolves can’t make this move right now. They just extended Reid – in fact, the same caveat applies to the Lakers and Vincent. If their jumbo ball experiment is working leading up to the deadline, they should pass on this deal. On the other hand, if they’re struggling, this deal could improve their team. Would it improve the Lakers?
Why The Los Angeles Lakers Do The Deal
The Wolves may have two floor-spacing big men. The Lakers don’t really have any. Sure, Anthony Davis can knock down the odd triple, but describing him as a floor spacer would be generous.
Meanwhile, they’ve got two starting-caliber point guards. In a vacuum, that’s fine. Vincent is more of an off-ball player, whereas D’Angelo Russell is a ball-dominant playmaker. These two can co-exist. Still, the Lakers could do well to diversify their lineup by adding a player like Reid.
NBA TRADES, NEWS & RUMORS: Naz Reid, Los Angeles Lakers & Minnesota Timberwolves Updates
Meanwhile, Reid isn’t just a floor spacer. he’s a crafty face-up scorer who can create some offense from scratch. His defensive value is limited, but it exists – Reid can block shots, even if he can be exploited in some situations. This is a good NBA player – even if the Timberwolves have too many bigs.
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