7 reasons why the Minnesota Timberwolves had to re-sign Naz Reid
By Bret Stuter
III: Naz Reid is a versatile fit at either the center or power forward position
We know that Naz Reid can play alongside center Rudy Gobert. We also know that Naz Reid can play alongside C/PF Karl-Anthony Towns. Not just play, but flourish. That ability to line up as either the 4 or the 5 gives the Timberwolves a great deal of flexibility to handle injuries as well as adapt the rotations to match up with each opponent.
And the Timberwolves roster is such that it’s never a bad idea to have a player in tow who can fill in the gaps of minutes at multiple positions. During the 2022-23 NBA season, the team was forced to reroute point guard minutes to Kyle Anderson when backup point guard Jordan McLaughlin was injured, and starting point guard D’Angelo Russell was unhappy in the role.
Plug-and-play potential
But Naz Reid could prove to be a plug-and-play type of player at any frontcourt position for the Timberwolves. That’s not some hair-brained speculation on my part. Oh no, that comes straight out of the mouth of Minnesota Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch.
At Naz Reid’s contract extension press conference, Chris Finch said Reid’s role will be as a backup 4 and a backup 5, but that he isn’t ruling out playing Reid, Karl-Anthony Towns and Rudy Gobert all at the same time.
— Dane Moore (@DaneMooreNBA) July 5, 2023
A rotational player who can compete in multiple positions is more than a luxury in the modern NBA, it’s a necessity. Thankfully, that is one of the qualities that Minnesota Timberwolves President of Basketball Operations Tim Connelly has emphasized of late.