In the wake of the excitement around the Minnesota Timberwolves' revamped roster, it feels like a lot of fans haven't truly processed that some of these players are no longer on the roster. From fan favorites to polarizing figures, there are four players who played key rotational minutes last season and are starting a new journey elsewhere.
Here, I will provide statistical predictions for these players, along with a brief overview of what to expect from them in different situations.
Naz Reid - Charlotte Hornets
Stat Predictions: 17.9 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 3.3 assists on 45/38/77 splits
Probably unanimously the saddest departure of the Wolves offseason, Naz Reid, who I thought personally could have been a Wolves-lifer, is set to become the Hornets' starting power forward this season
It's a bittersweet feeling for Wolves fans. Reid was the beloved homegrown guy who grinded his way up from being undrafted and signing a training-camp deal to winning Sixth Man of the Year and becoming one of the premier role players and stretch bigs in the league.
I think this season he blossoms into a true, solid starting forward in the league, something he just never had the opportunity to do in Minnesota, but the potential was always there. Some Hornets fans are understandably frustrated about trading LaMelo Ball, but I believe Reid will quickly be endeared to the fan base, just like he was in Minnesota.
2. Julius Randle - Brooklyn Nets
Stat predictions: 22.9 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 5.2 assists on 46/32/76 splits
As I'm sure you know from reading my stuff, I'm not a believer in Randle. I don't think he can be a featured piece on a team with championship aspirations, and I don't think he's an elite culture guy based on how eager his last two teams were to move on from him.
But unironically, the Nets are a perfect situation for him. They aren't really close to becoming a playoff contender; their absolute ceiling is probably a competitive Play-In team, but in the deep Eastern Conference, I don't really see that. He's going to have the ball A TON for the Nets this season; therefore, I expect his stats to slightly improve from his time in Minnesota.
I pray for Nets fans watching Randle and Michael Porter Jr. play "your turn, my turn" basketball sounds like an eyesore. I like some of their young players, like Egor Demin and Mikel Brown Jr., but they probably won't be a good team this year. Randle will have some huge games as he always does, but I don't think it will translate to wins.
Mike Conley - Boston Celtics
Stat predictions: 5.4 points, 1.5 rebounds, and 3.1 assists on 37/39/84 splits
Personally, I might have been more shocked when Conley signed elsewhere than I was when the Wolves traded Reid. I always thought Conley was going to finish his career here, but I understand why he made the choice to sign with Boston.
He wanted the chance to play for a storied franchise, something he's never done, and he also still wants to get on the court and play meaningful minutes for a team with championship aspirations. With LaMelo Ball in the fold, plus Ayo Dosunmu and Bones Hyland off the bench, there weren't any real minutes available for Conley. He would have had to take the Joe Ingles role to stay with Minnesota, and I respect him for believing he's worth more than that.
The Celtics' backup point guard spot is pretty wide open behind Payton Pritchard, and Conley should fit in with what they like to do: getting up a lot of 3-pointers. While he's pretty far past his prime, he still offers value as a catch-and-shoot guy and a positive IQ player.
Kyle Anderson - Toronto Raptors
Stat predictions: 6.1 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 3.7 assists on 49/30/73 splits
Anderson finished last season back with Minnesota after making appearances in Golden State, Miami, Utah, and Memphis following his first stint here. Anderson kind of does what he does; he's never going to wow you, and some of the things in his toolbox are pretty unorthodox, but he gets it done.
He's a positive playmaker for his position, a very versatile defender, and he figures out crafty ways to get looks in the paint. He fits what the Raptors do well, and his jack-of-all-trades playstyle will complement Kawhi Leonard and Scottie Barnes nicely off the bench.
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