Naz Reid, the reigning Sixth Man of the Year in the NBA, has been a fan favorite in Minnesota for a couple of years. He went undrafted in 2019, time year before the Timberwolves took Anthony Edwards first overall. Reid was not expected to be a rotational piece for the team, much less a beloved cornerstone of the franchise.
Despite the long odds and limited opportunities playing behind Rudy Gobert and Karl-Anthony Towns, Reid made a name for himself as one of the most versatile centers in the league. He averaged 13.5 points per game last season while shooting over 40% from three. He dazzled in his second career trip to the playoffs last season and was one of the main reasons why the Wolves were able to topple the defending champions in the second round. His ball handling and finesse around the rim earned him the nickname “Big Jelly.”
Naz would be a starter on most NBA teams, but he is perfectly happy with his role in Minnesota. However, the Timberwolves could benefit from increasing his usage, especially late in games.
Three Late-Game Timberwolves Lineups Featuring Naz Reid
One Player Could Boost the Timberwolves Play in Crunch Time
The Minnesota Timberwolves have not necessarily had problems during the fourth quarter this season. In their losses, they have tended to fall behind in the first three quarters and struggle to make comebacks due to a struggling at times defense.
Still, with how well Reid has been playing, along with how good he was late in playoff games last season, getting him on the floor would not hurt at all. Here are three different lineups that could work with Naz in the game for the final few minutes.
Lineup #1
PG – Mike Conley
SG – Anthony Edwards
SF – Julius Randle
PF – Naz Reid
C – Rudy Gobert
Although Reid is a center by trade, he has seen plenty of playing time at the four. In that spot, he will be on the perimeter more often, and he is shooting well over 40% from three. He will not be overwhelmed by a larger center when he plays defense as that will be Gobert’s job. That gives Reid an advantage on the glass, particularly the offensive glass.
The missing starter is Jaden McDaniels. Although he is a top-tier defender coming off a strong showing last year, he has been plagued by foul trouble in nearly every game this season. Knowing this, head coach Chris Finch needs to be prepared to deal with absence on a normal basis if the fouls continue.
Randle gets to move over to the three, where he can take advantage of more-favorable matchups. However, he needs to be a willing shooter off the catch if he does slide over.
With this lineup, the Wolves will have a significant size advantage. Therefore, rebounding should not be a problem. With that being said though, Randle will have to prove that he is capable of defending small forwards and switching onto guards.
Lineup #2
PG – Mike Conley
SG – Anthony Edwards
SF – Jaden McDaniels
PF – Julius Randle
C – Naz Reid
I know what you’re thinking. Why on earth would you bench Gobert in crunch time? The answer is this: in some instances last season, the Stifle Tower was an offensive liability. Moreover, Reid is better than Gobert at the free throw line. Missed free throws should not be something a team has to consistently worry about, and subbing in Naz takes away that concern.
It’s not like Reid is a poor defender, either. He can hold his own against most centers in the league. When facing Nikola Jokic or Karl-Anthony Towns, though, the Timberwolves might want to stick with Gobert.
McDaniels and Randle stay in their natural positions, and the perimeter defense reaches maximum strength. Rebounding might be the biggest issue here, but this lineup also allows the Wolves to run in transition because of Reid’s handling skills.
Lineup #3
SG – Anthony Edwards
SF – Jaden McDaniels
PF – Naz Reid
C – Rudy Gobert
This lineup is a little bit different, with two starters sitting on the bench late in the game. Removing Conley is a bold move, but keep in mind how much he has struggled to begin the season. Alexander-Walker has been clutch on many occasions when he’s had the chance, and he and Reid have great chemistry. Both of them started as rotational players receiving minimal playing time, but they played well enough to earn more time on the floor. Also, if the rumors are true, Alexandee-Walker might not be around for much longer, so Finch might as well experiment while he still has him.
The decision to bench Randle is also based on chemistry. While he is a great player who can be a key piece moving forward, he just isn’t perfectly meshed with the playing style in Minnesota yet. Later in the year, benching him might be a laughable idea, but we’re not there yet. In many cases, Reid is the better option.
With this lineup, Edwards will have more options when it comes to giving the ball to consistent catch-and-shoot threats. Reid has enough ability in isolation to take some of the load off his shoulders, but also enough patience and unselfishness to let Edwards go to work.
