Naz Reid means everything to the Minnesota Timberwolves. By both the fanbase and his teammates, Reid is beloved -- in every sense of the word, he's an indispensable part of the Wolves franchise. Focusing on the basketball aspect, though, Reid's consistent bench production gives the Wolves a rare strength that few teams can relate to.
The 6-foot-9 big man has established himself as one of the league's best and most consistent reserves over the past few seasons. Of course, this was highlighted by Reid taking home Sixth Man of the Year honors two seasons ago -- an award he could earn again this season.
Reid essentially gives the Wolves a sixth starter, and he certainly gives them another closing option, which is a luxury that few teams can relate to. His size and well-rounded abilities set him apart from your typical sparkplug bench player. Come playoff time, Reid's presence gives the Wolves a massive advantage.
During Friday's game against the Dallas Mavericks, Reid poured in 21 points, seven rebounds, and four assists off the bench in a night where Julius Randle and Jaden McDaniels struggled to score. Undoubtedly, the Wolves wouldn't have won by 11 points without Reid's contributions.
This game is the perfect reminder of how important Naz is to the Wolves' success and what an advantage it is to have such a gifted bench player.
Naz Reid gives the Timberwolves an element that's difficult to match
Reid's averages of 14.3 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 2.5 assists all exceed his 6MOY stats. Impressively, Reid leads the league in total bench points this season. All season long (and in past years), Reid's consistent bench scoring has uplifted the Timberwolves.
Other top teams in the West have fantastic bench players, including Ajay Mitchell (Oklahoma City Thunder), Keldon Johnson (San Antonio Spurs), and Tim Hardaway Jr. (Denver Nuggets). However, Reid is the most proven and consistent. Additionally, his sparkplug skill set as a center makes him a rarer archetype than your typical bench player. Thus, Reid gives the Wolves a different element that most teams simply don't have -- there's no denying that's a massive advantage.
With Reid's blend of size, 3-point shooting, self-creation, playmaking, rebounding, and hustle, he has one of the most unique skill sets in the league. Reid's floor spacing opens the game up significantly for Anthony Edwards.
Honestly, Reid's knockdown shooting makes him a seamless fit with just about any lineup. According to Basketball Index, Reid ranks in the 87th percentile for one-on-one shot making and the 89th percentile for 3-point shooting talent.
If either Rudy Gobert or Randle has an off-night, Reid gives the Wolves another option to close games with. Although in the case of Randle, this would be a shift from what we've typically seen from Chris Finch.
Regardless, the point is that Reid consistently providing starter-level production is a game-changer for the Wolves. When the playoffs roll around, depth will be a crucial factor.
While overall depth has been a problem for the Wolves this season, Reid's exceptional play is a clear advantage that few teams can relate to. Furthermore, the addition of Ayo Dosunmu greatly boosts the Wolves' depth.
Ultimately, there's only one Naz Reid around the league, and if the Wolves put together another deep playoff run, expect him to be a key part of it.