NBA Rumors: Naz Reid to Lakers? Timberwolves can respond in 3 ways

I: Cut your losses, sign Luka Garza, and move on

The Minnesota Timberwolves can simply stop negotiations, essentially letting Naz Reid find a new team to play for and focus their energies on addressing their own roster needs at a backup center position. Thankfully, the Timberwolves got a lot of flash potential in their very young backup center Luka Garza, and Minnesota Timberwolves fans would love to see what he might do on the team in a more significant role.

Did the Minnesota Timberwolves miscalculate? After all, the Timberwolves’ did lose their backup center due to a rather serious injury that eliminated him from any chance of competing in the 2023 NBA Playoffs. That meant that, even as Naz Reid’s production improved in the 2022-23 NBA season, he has no performance in the 2023 NBA Playoffs to prove that his performance can handle that increased competition in the postseason.

One more year to gain NBA Playoff experience?

That could all be fixed by a simple contract to return to the Minnesota Timberwolves on a one-year deal, stay healthy, and prove to all the other 29 NBA teams that he won’t wilt in brighter lights and on bigger NBA stages.

Perhaps the Timberwolves were counting on that. And it’s a wise strategy for both the team and Naz Reid to take. But wisdom and common sense are not as common as they used to be. In the modern era, it’s more instant gratification than playing the long game, and Naz Reid may be so focused on starting that he is unwilling to consider other avenues.

The Timberwolves have three options over the intent to sign backup center Naz Reid to an extension. Right now, I have no idea which option the team will take. Some suggest that the only way the Timberwolves retain Naz Reid is to assure him that they will trade away Karl-Anthny Towns this offseason. That doesn’t make a lot of sense, as it means that Reid will be playing the power-forward role for the Timberwolves instead. Which option do you think prevails?