When it comes to bench depth, the Timberwolves are already a dry well. The trade to bring in Ayo Dosunmu certainly helps with the scoring, but he's another guard. Outside of guards, the only reserve that has consistently contributed off the bench this year has been Naz Reid.
He hasn't just contributed, he's been the best bench player in the entire NBA this season and is looking to take home his second Sixth Man of the Year trophy. Averaging 14.3 points and 6.4 rebounds, Reid has been a steady force this year, closing games if one of the bigs is having an off-night.
He's been one of the most reliable scorers on the roster
Outside of Anthony Edwards and Julius Randle, Reid has been the third most consistent scorer on the team. Some people could argue Jaden McDaniels, but he has too many games where he disappears and isn't aggressive. Donte DiVincenzo is a very hot and cold player, and Rudy Gobert's value isn't putting the ball in the basket.
Reid has shown the ability to scale up and down in his role. If Randle is having one of his out-of-control games, Reid has stepped in, played 30-plus minutes, and given elite numbers. If Randle is having a great game, Reid can scale back and become an elite off-ball threat as a catch-and-shooter.
He's the only backup big on the roster ready for everyday minutes
Joan Beringer and Rocco Zikarsky are intriguing prospects, withBeringer looking like a young Rudy Gobert with the ability for a more polished offensive game, and Zikarsky having big G-League games with a 7-foot-3 frame, but neither of them is ready for everyday action.
Yesterday's game put a bow on this, as Beringer got the start in place of a suspended Gobert and an injured Reid. He played alright, but his big issue is defending without fouling, as he fouled out in only 17 minutes of action, forcing Julius Randle and even Jaden McDaniels to play minutes at the center, which, as you can expect, was a disaster.
His importance goes far beyond his scoring. He's the only depth at a position where the Wolves are paper-thin, and he is capable of closing games on any given night. When the Wolves gave him $125 million over the summer, it wasn't by accident; they knew how much he means to the team and the city, and without him, games are simply a lot harder to win.