Naz Reid is wasting no time proving he had more to give than Minnesota ever asked of him.
After seven seasons with the Timberwolves, Reid built a reputation as one of the league’s top bench weapons. He became a fan favorite through a bizarrely unlikely rise, a fun style of play, and his work in the community. But even with all that, it was hard to shake the feeling that his game had another gear - one he was never going to hit as a sixth man.
For a brief stretch of about 36 hours, it looked like Reid might finally get that chance with the Timberwolves. Then the deal changed everything, sending him to the Charlotte Hornets in the trade that brought Minnesota LaMelo Ball.
The early returns in Charlotte are loud. In three games as a starter, Reid is putting up 20 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 3 assists per game.
That’s a clear step up from the 13.8 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 1.9 assists he averaged over his last three seasons in Minnesota. He’s also taking 5.9 more field goal attempts.
If that keeps up, he’ll be in the Most Improved Player conversation before long.
The bigger point is simple: given the chance to play through more of the offense, Reid is looking comfortable.
His time in Minnesota never really gave him room to stretch out. For two years, he was behind Karl-Anthony Towns and Rudy Gobert.
Then for two more, it was Julius Randle and Gobert. In that kind of frontcourt traffic jam, starting was never on the table, and reaching his ceiling in Minnesota was always going to be tough.
That said, this isn’t a hit job on the Wolves. Chris Finch got the most out of Reid that he could, and Tim Connelly rewarded him with a five-year, $125 million contract.
Towns was already entrenched when Reid arrived. The Gobert trade was made to reshape the defense and push the team into contender territory, and Reid wasn’t good enough to stop that move from happening in 2022.
There’s a fairer criticism to be made elsewhere. Not moving Towns for a guard, or not digging into sign-and-trade options for Randle in 2025, are valid questions.
But even that comes with its own wrinkle: what kind of market really existed for Randle, and could Minnesota have found an All-Star-level player at another position in the Towns deal while also saving money? In the end, the Wolves landed an ideal co-star for Anthony Edwards in Ball.
Still, the basic truth remains: Minnesota’s crowded frontcourt kept Reid from showing the full version of himself. And with his mix of size and skill, the breakout shouldn’t be a shock.
Plenty of fans saw this coming. After the trade, I said there was a real chance Reid would take a leap.
He had already shown flashes with the Wolves as a self-creator and ball-handler, but most of his work came as a spot-up shooter. Anyone who watched closely could see there was more in there if he got more responsibility. In Charlotte, he’s getting that opportunity - and he’s making the most of it.
In Other News...
Timberwolves Face An Early Test With One Key Piece Missing
The Timberwolves get an early season measuring stick Sunday night at Target Center, where they host Toronto in a matchup that has plenty of preseason intrigue even before the opening tip. It is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET and will be carried on NBA TV, DAZN-MIN, TSN and TSN+, giving both teams a national stage as they settle into the new year.
Minnesota will have to navigate it without Donte DiVincenzo, a notable absence from the rotation as the Wolves try to protect home court against a Raptors team listed as a small underdog. Toronto also has a key injury note of its own, with Nate Bittle ruled out, but the bigger question for Minnesota is how it handles the missing wing depth against a conference opponent that can make a game uncomfortable if the pace gets away from them. [Read more 🡒]
Timberwolves Hot Start Is Already Creating A Real Rotation Battle
The early wins have done more than give the Timberwolves a good feeling around the building. They have also turned the back end of Chris Finchs rotation into a real day-to-day puzzle, with the coach still sorting through how different bench pieces fit alongside a team that has come out playing with purpose. Trey Lyles, Bones Hyland and Jaylen Clark have all been part of that conversation, each bringing a different skill set while Finch keeps mixing and matching based on matchups and game flow.
Bones Hylands first non-garbage-time appearance of the season in Orlando was another reminder that nothing is settled yet, and his eight minutes only added to the sense that Finch is still searching for the right balance. The Timberwolves have enough momentum to buy some patience, but the competition for roles is already tightening, especially with multiple reserves trying to separate themselves before the rotation starts to harden. [Read more 🡒]
Timberwolves Put Unbeaten Start On The Line In Home Opener
The Timberwolves head into their home opener riding real early momentum after opening the season 2-0 in impressive fashion, becoming just the third NBA team to win its first two games on the road by 20 points or more. After handling the first part of the schedule away from Target Center, Minnesota now gets its first chance to show how that start translates in front of its own crowd, where the building has been kind to them on opening night.
Toronto brings plenty of its own confidence into the matchup, arriving unbeaten and already having looked sharp in both of its first two games. That sets up a solid early test for Minnesota, which has to protect the energy of its start while also dealing with a Raptors team that has already shown it can win comfortably on one night and handle the road on the next. [Read more 🡒]