Timberwolves Trade Rumors: Team believes Naz Reid extension likely

The Minnesota Timberwolves have long been rumored to be interested in tweaking their roster before the NBA Trade Deadline. Since the Timberwolves are lacking tradable draft picks at the moment, the team will need to trade players who are currently on the roster. One of the most marketable young players is center Naz Reid, a rapidly improving center who is in the final year of his current contract.

Extension talks between the Timberwolves and Naz Reid have shown little progress, prompting many to suggest that Reid could be a player on the move at the trade deadline. After all, it makes more sense to get something now, rather than risk holding an empty sack at the end of the season.

But hold on a minute. Per ActionNetwork.com’s Matt Moore, the Timberwolves may not be trading Naz Reid after all:

In his latest article, Matt Moore reports that multiple teams have contacted the Minnesota Timberwolves with the intent to negotiate a trade to acquire Reid before the NBA Trade Deadline. But he goes on to report the Timberwolves’ rumor is that no such trade is forthcoming and that the Minnesota Timberwolves believe that they can negotiate an extension for Reid.

That is excellent news if it pans out. The Timberwolves have a young core of players who are rapidly ascending into leading roles for the team. That includes both SG Anthony Edwards and forward Jaden McDaniels. If the team can extend Naz Reid as well, they will have two core shells. In the most obvious, the Timberwolves boast center Rudy Gobert, power forward Karl-Anthony Towns, and guard D’Angelo Russell. But in the next tier, the Timberwolves could be looking at center Naz Reid, forward Jaden McDaniels, and guard Anthony Edwards.

But ‘cores’ have one excellent defender, one excellent shooter, and one player who handles a bit of both. And if the Timberwolves are able to find the funds to do so, the team could be set for a very long time.

Is it true? Or is this simply the type of story that is leaked to insist that interested teams must up the ante significantly to be taken seriously?