We are nearly six weeks into the NBA season, and we now have a much more solid understanding of this Minnesota Timberwolves team. Generally, they have looked the part of a squad that made a major roster change the week before training camp.
That is not to say that the Wolves have not still had their successes, but everyone who has sat down to watch this team play this season has noticed how different they are from the group that took this franchise to the Western Conference Finals just over six months ago. Sitting at a 9-10 record as of this writing, there is still plenty of work to be done in Minnesota.
Looking to the future, the Timberwolves will have opportunities to make changes if they so choose. The NBA trade deadline is just over two months away on February 6, and Minnesota's front office will have until then to decide which players they want around for the long haul, and which they see as more expendable.
Now, one might look at the Karl-Anthony Towns trade and think this would be a key indicator that anyone on the roster is on the table in a potential trade. But a new report from league insider Michael Scotto shows that may not necessarily be the case.
Naz Reid reportedly “has supporters in Minnesota’s front office who believe he could thrive with more minutes after winning Sixth Man of the Year award last season,” per @MikeAScotto. pic.twitter.com/hjkJjm8x03
— Will Eudy (@WillCEudy) December 2, 2024
Report hints at Naz Reid trade being unlikely
Scotto's latest article from Monday lists his educated guess on each team's most likely trade targets. When discussing the Timberwolves, Michael reports of some insider info from within the Twin Cities. Following his mention of Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo as the team's most likely trade candidates, Scotto had this to say:
It’s also worth noting that Reid, who has a $15 million player option for next season, has supporters in Minnesota’s front office who believe he could thrive with more minutes after winning the Sixth Man of the Year award last season. For context, Reid has averaged 19.8 points and 8.5 rebounds when he’s played 30-39 minutes in 24 career games.
This does not explicitly state that Reid is off the chopping block, but it would certainly seem that he has more job security than others if his supporters on the inside have any kind of say in whether he sticks around or not. And really, it would make a lot of sense for Reid to become one of Minnesota's building blocks going forward.
The jury is still out on Julius Randle's future with the Timberwolves, so naturally the focus would then shift to the team's second-most talented offensive player in the frontcourt in Naz Reid. Chris Finch has already had success while playing Reid and Rudy Gobert together, so it feels highly unlikely the team will look to move him anytime soon.