Timberwolves looking for more out of Naz Reid this year

If you have a chance to look over the projected Minnesota Timberwolves 2022-23 depth chart, you might see several things that will immediately jump out at you. The Timberwolves’ current 15-player roster is full. With the signing of power forward Nathan Knight to a standard contract versus a Two-Way contract, the Timberwolves now only have one unclaimed Two-Way contract to offer to a free agent.

And if you take a deeper look, you will see that the Minnesota Timberwolves currently project just Rudy Gobert and Naz Reid to handle their center position this season. While the team could slide in Nathan Knight, Josh Minott, or even Taurean Prince from the power forward role to run center in an ad hoc small ball lineup, a more likely scenario is that the Timberwolves will move Karl-Anthony Towns to the 5 as part of their rotation.

But I wouldn’t expect that too often. The Timberwolves should be reluctant to do so, as KAT will have his hands quite full in trying to learn and adapt to his new power-forward role. So that means that there should be plenty of minutes to absorb at the center spot for Naz Reid.

And he appears to be ready for that upgrade in playing time.

Naz Reid is one of the players who will have pressure to deliver this season. Entering his fourth season, he has the potential to make a huge impact on the team this year. While he has not been taking as many shots as he can, he is dead-on accurate when he does. He averages 49 percent shooting from the floor, and 72.3 percent from the foul line, and 34.3 percent from the perimeter.

Reid plays wholesome defense but has struggled in the playoff with the more physical competition. He should average nearly 20 MPG this season, which should push his scoring over 10 PPG and up to 4.5 RPG.

That will be a nice boost off the bench if he can deliver.  The Minnesota Timberwolves looking for more out of center Naz Reid this year. The biggest question is, can he deliver?