Tag: Naz Reid

Spurs land 24-year-old center to help Victor Wembanyama in mock trade

In this mock trade, the San Antonio Spurs would land a 24-year-old center to play next to Victor Wembanyama.

As the San Antonio Spurs get set to enter the 2023-24 season, all eyes will be on Victor Wembanyama. The Spurs selected the 19-year-old Frenchman with the first pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, and he’s one of the most hyped-up prospects in the last 20 years. He has enough talent to lead the team for the next decade-plus.

But for the immediate future, the Spurs’ gameplan should be to surround him with as much talent as possible. It’s been reported that the Spurs plan to play Wembanyama at the power forward position, with Zach Collins manning the center position. In turn, adding center help could be a priority moving forward.

Zach Buckley of Bleacher Report recently wrote a mock trade that would see them do just that, landing Naz Reid in a deal with the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Ranking the Top 10 big men for Team USA if Joel Embiid declines invitation to Paris Olympics in 2024

Anthony Davis is the top option but there are some interesting sleepers, too.

After shockingly failing to medal during the 2023 FIBA World Cup, Team USA has lots of questions to answer before the 2024 Olympics in Paris.

One of the reasons why Team USA struggled to even earn a bronze medal was due to a lack of size in the frontcourt. They struggled on the defensive end of the floor and had a massive deficiency when it came to rebounding the ball.

This is a team that will need legitimate big men in order to compete with tough international talent in the post such as Serbia’s Nikola Jokic as well as France’s Rudy Gobert and Victor Wembanyama.

Team USA head coach Steve Kerr was asked about what changes may come before the Olympics and he mentioned that the team needed to have very specific intentions when it came to the types of big men they would target for the roster (via The Athletic):

“I think it’s a worthwhile point of discussion, but the discussion has to go to, ‘OK, then who is that?” […] “You can’t just say, we’re going to have size for size’s sake. You have to have players who are going to help you win, and you have to determine who those guys are. It’s not just the size, it’s the way the game is played. […] But I don’t think it’s as simple as saying it’s just size. I think you have to examine who you’re talking about if you go down that path.”

Of course, the first name that comes to mind is Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid. He could join the likes of Hakeem Olajuwon, who helped lead Team USA to win a gold medal at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta after he became a naturalized citizen of the United States.

The six-time All-Star is an international free agent who is eligible to play for Team Cameroon (after they clinched a spot to compete in the FIBA World Olympic Qualifying Tournament) as well as Team France and Team USA.

Team USA managing director Grant Hill said Embiid “knows our desire” to have him on the team. According to Brian Windhorst, however, it’s too early to assume that the league’s reigning MVP will decide to actually suit up for the Americans at the 2024 Olympics in Paris (via ESPN):

“Team USA has done some recruiting of Joel Embiid, who holds both United States and French citizenship, but the Philadelphia 76ers star has thus far been noncommittal.”

So if Team USA is not able to successfully recruit Embiid, here are the other top options that they could consider:

This Jeopardy! contestant amazingly named her cat NAZ REID after the Timberwolves big man

NAZ REID, the cat, is already a legend.

Minnesota Timberwolves big man Naz Reid probably didn’t expect to hear his name if he was watching Jeopardy! on Thursday night.

Reid is a 23-year-old center who averaged 11.5 points and 4.9 rebounds per game last season. He isn’t exactly a household name after playing four years in the NBA, but fans of the popular game show learned a bit more about the former LSU star last night.

Anji Nyquist, a contestant from Minnesota, told host Ken Jennings about her interest in the Timberwolves and her basketball-loving cat. It was a very fun fact update about Nyquist, who won the competition on Wednesday and was returning to defend her crown.

Here is what she had to say to Jennings during the telecast:

“I am a big Timberwolves fan. We have season tickets. This season did not go the way we were hoping for but I’m hopeful because we have Anthony Edwards, who is really good, and we have Naz Reid — who I named my cat for.”

Nyquist confirmed that the cat is spelled with all capital letters, NAZ REID.

In case you were curious, here is what NAZ REID (the cat) looks like:

 

She added that NAZ REID watches basketball with her and that she loves to watch the basketball go around the court.

This is just legendary stuff from Nyquist, NAZ REID and Naz Reid.

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Extension before 2023 free agency: Who are the candidates?

Here are six players who could avoid free agency by receiving an extension this week.

As free agency approaches, potential free agents are preparing for their future. Teams and players can begin negotiations on June 30, the final day of the 2022-23 salary cap year. Some players, still extension-eligible till that date, can bypass free agency by signing a new deal now. Naz Reid and the Minnesota Timberwolves have initiated proceedings three-year, $42 million deal that he was eligible to sign all season long.

Some players like Draymond Green and Khris Middleton, who seem like good bets to re-sign with their current teams would make sense as extension candidates. However, they could be looking at securing long-term deals where they get a lower starting salary. They wouldn’t be allowed to extend at a lower starting salary than the player option amounts they declined, but they could in free agency. The new CBA has changed that rule to allow such players with options to extend at lower amounts starting next offseason.

Here are several other players who remain extension-eligible and could come to terms on a deal prior to free agency.

Lakers reportedly have interest in Timberwolves big man Naz Reid

The Lakers may be looking to beef up their frontcourt this offseason.

Much of the attention on the Los Angeles Lakers’ personnel needs this offseason has centered around the guard position. The big questions are whether the team will pony up the dough to keep Austin Reaves and D’Angelo Russell, its starting guards, and whether Russell could be involved in a sign-and-trade.

But Los Angeles could also use more frontcourt depth, especially after it usually went with 6-foot-8 Rui Hachimura and even LeBron James to back up Anthony Davis at the 5 during the playoffs.

To that end, the team is reportedly interested in signing Minnesota Timberwolves big man Naz Reid.

Via Lakers Daily:

“Sources tell Lakers Daily that the Lakers are interested in acquiring Reid, who will be an unrestricted free agent this offseason.”

Reid is 23 years of age. Although he’s only 6-foot-9, he weighs a robust 264 pounds. He has become a key reserve for an upstart Timberwolves squad over the last couple of years, mostly at the center position.

This season, he averaged 11.5 points, 4.9 rebounds and 0.8 blocked shots in 18.4 minutes per game. Although he isn’t a great 3-point shooter, he hit 34.6% of his treys during the regular season.

What to make of Matt McMahon’s tough first year at LSU

Matt McMahon’s first year at LSU is done. Where do the Tigers go from here?

The NCAA Tournament is set to begin soon, and LSU won’t be in it.

That’s different from these last few years. With [autotag]Will Wade[/autotag], aside from the COVID year, LSU fans got used to watching basketball in March.

The Tigers have made the last three NCAA Tournaments.

LSU never made a special run at a Final Four, though there was a Sweet 16 appearance. But after several years of struggles, the tournament appearances were enough to satisfy LSU fans in an ever improving SEC.

There was even an SEC title throw in there too.

Stars from those teams have now found success in the NBA, whether it be [autotag]Naz Reid[/autotag] or [autotag]Cam Thomas[/autotag].

LSU finished dead last in the SEC this year. Wade was let go a year ago after LSU received a notice of allegations and in the wake of it, LSU basketball has tripped, stumbled and fallen.

Several players from Wade’s team transferred out. At one point, LSU was without any scholarship player on the roster. LSU hired [autotag]Matt McMahon[/autotag] from Murray State and he recouped some of the losses. Most notably, he convinced guard [autotag]Adam Miller[/autotag] to return.

McMahon brought a number of his players from a good Murray State team too, along with a couple of blue-chip recruits.

Things didn’t look that bad anymore. The team wasn’t overflowing with talent but it had experienced players who had won at a high level. LSU started 5-0 and moved to 12-1. LSU finished off December with a win over No. 9 ranked Arkansas.

Following the Arkansas win, fans celebrated McMahon’s quick turnaround. The group had gelled fast, and LSU was going to compete for a spot in the NCAA Tournament.

In the next game, the Tigers put up a fight on the road at Kentucky. Not a win, but more evidence the program was trending up and worthy of conference-wide attention.

Then it started to crumble. LSU lost by seven on the road to a Texas A&M team that turned out to be pretty good. Still not the end of the world. Then LSU lost again, to a Florida team that frankly, wasn’t that good.

LSU then lost again and again and again. A team that was 12-1 was 12-15 and any hope for postseason play had long disappeared.

You could chalk that 12-1 start up to mostly weak opponents. But Arkansas is No. 19 in KenPom, and the Tigers beat a Wake Forest team that won 19 games.

LSU’s lone loss in that stretch was by two points to a Kansas State team that’s 23-9. It really doesn’t make sense. But that’s how Year 1s are sometimes. This was a team with a new coach at a new place that’s never played together before.

This season is now in the rearview mirror. I don’t want to get caught up on diagnosing every issue.

Where does LSU go from here?

There’s sure to be plenty of turnover again. [autotag]KJ Williams[/autotag], LSU’s best player, will be gone. He was responsible for so much of LSU’s production this year.

Replacing him in a normal situation will be tough. Replacing him in a rebuild, even tougher.

McMahon was hired as a developmental guy. [autotag]Scott Woodward[/autotag] didn’t turn to the proven Power Five winner like he did with football and baseball. With McMahon, Woodward’s playing the long game and the contract McMahon received reflects that.

McMahon signed three four-stars last cycle: [autotag]Tyrell Ward[/autotag], [autotag]Jalen Reed[/autotag] and [autotag]Shawn Phillips[/autotag]. That’s LSU’s future core. It’s pivotal that McMahon holds on to them.

If they leave, that’s when I’d start questioning if McMahon is right for this rebuild.

The pieces for improvement are here. You just have to believe McMahon is a guy capable of developing at LSU like he did at Murray State.

You don’t need elite recruiting classes to win in college basketball. Teams have made runs strictly on developing players.

McMahon added a slew of transfers last year and getting their veteran presence back would be nice, but LSU needs to mine talent in the portal, especially at the guard position.

LSU has a couple of top 200 recruits on their way in. [autotag]Corey Chest[/autotag] and [autotag]Mike Williams[/autotag]. Based on how McMahon treated the freshmen this year, don’t expect a ton from them next year.

It’s too early to make big declarations on what the roster could look like. This is still a program in flux, and in this era, anything can happen.

This offseason, even more so than last, is critically important for McMahon and staff. Last year was excusable. Finishing last in the SEC again next year won’t be.

This is the new SEC. It doesn’t matter if you’re a football school. Athletic departments with money are expected to be relevant in basketball.

Fans want to see this program competing for conference titles once again.

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B\R: Brooklyn Nets should go after Naz Reid in free-agency

The Brooklyn Nets should go after Naz Reid in free-agency, according to Bleacher Report.

The Brooklyn Nets should go after Minnesota Timberwolves center Naz Reid in the offseason, according to Dan Favale of Bleacher Report. There was speculation leading up to the trade deadline that the Nets were going to trade for Reid in order to acquire more depth in the frontcourt to prepare for a championship run.

However, that did not come to fruition as Brooklyn had bigger problems to deal with. Despite still dealing with a lack of depth in the frontcourt because Nic Claxton is still the only true big on the team, Brooklyn had to focus on trading Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant. Both of those trade requests may have distracted the Nets from trying to get more frontcourt depth.

Reid is one of the players that Brooklyn has been linked to because of their need for size and because of Reid’s skill set. Reid has versatility similar to Nic Claxton in that he can switch and guard multiple positions, but unlike Claxton, Reid can shoot the three-ball at a good clip. Bleacher Report thinks that the non-taxpayer Mid-Level Exception should be enough to draw Reid out of Minnesota:

“Consider this a (small) leap of faith. The Brooklyn Nets profile as taxpayers when factoring in Cam Johnson’s $17.7 million restricted free agency hold—and he might cost more than that to retain.

That payroll won’t stand. I think.

Brooklyn doesn’t have an incentive to burn it all down when Houston controls its next four first-rounders, but it’s also not competitive enough to float a roster that belly-flops into the luxury tax. The bet here is the Nets open up flexibility by selling off some combination of Spencer Dinwiddie, Joe Harris or Royce O’Neale ($2.5 million guaranteed) or figuring out a way to divest their remaining commitment to Ben Simmons (two years, $78.2 million).”

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New mock trade has Sixers acquiring Naz Reid from Timberwolves

A new mock trade has the Philadelphia 76ers acquiring Naz Reid from the Minnesota Timberwolves in a deal.

The Philadelphia 76ers have a need to upgrade the backup center position behind Joel Embiid before Thursday’s 3 p.m. EST trade deadline and there will be plenty of names flying around before then.

There will also be plenty of mock trades as everybody tries to come up with the right deals to help certain teams. With the Sixers needing the backup big man, that position is the focus of a few different fake deals.

A mock trade from CBS Sports has the Sixers calling up the Minnesota Timberwolves to acquire big man Naz Reid. Philadelphia has reportedly expressed interest in the center out of LSU.

Report: Sixers have expressed interest in Timberwolves big man Naz Reid

The Philadelphia 76ers have expressed interest in acquiring Minnesota Timberwolves big man Naz Reid in a deal.

As the Philadelphia 76ers and the rest of the NBA prepare for the Feb. 9 trade deadline, there are going to be a great many names attached to each team and a lot of ideas being thrown out about what each time might or might not do.

The Sixers are in a position where they are serious contenders for the title in the 2022-23 season. Led by Joel Embiid and James Harden, they have a serious chance at winning a title.

However, there is one spot that needs clarity: the backup center spot. Coach Doc Rivers has maintained he will turn to his duo of Montrezl Harrell and Paul Reed, but realistically, it would help if everybody had a set role as they move forward.

One name that has popped up is Minnesota Timberwolves big man Naz Reid. He has taken advantage of the playing time given to him in the wake of the injury to Karl-Anthony Towns, and he has garnered a lot of interest at the trade deadline, including from the Sixers.

Per ESPN’s Tim MacMahon on Brian Windhorst’s podcast, “The Hoop Collective”:

You’re hearing a lot of smoke about Naz Reid. Philly’s another team that apparently has some significant interest there.

Now, what can the Sixers offer up for Reid? Matisse Thybulle’s name has popped up as both the Golden State Warriors and the Sacramento Kings have expressed interest in acquiring Thybulle and, per Windhorst, there are other teams that have inquired as well:

McMahon mentioned Matisse Thybulle. He’s sort of reduced. I mean, he was the first guy off the bench last year. He was their sixth man and they’re so much deeper now that they barely use them. I’ve heard him attached to three or four different teams, the salary is low so we’re not talking about a significant thing.

The Sixers should probably go all in at this moment in time. Most would argue that the Boston Celtics and the Milwaukee Bucks are more complete teams than Philadelphia, but the Sixers have just as good a chance as anybody else considering the immense talent of Embiid and the playmaking of Harden.

Adding a guy like Reid who’s averaging 10.4 points and 4.9 rebounds and shooting 53.4% to their bench unit would be a significant upgrade and it would fortify their title chances.

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Should the Boston Celtics target Timberwolves center Naz Reid for a trade?

Per one analyst, definitely — and we couldn’t agree more.

If the Boston Celtics make a move ahead of the 2023 NBA trade deadline on Feb. 9, they could do a lot worse than Minnesota Timberwolves big man Naz Reid. And that is likely the reason Bleacher Report’s Dan Favale believes the Celtics ought to look into trading for the Minnesota center.

In a recent article, Favale proposed Boston deal Justin Jackson, Portland’s 2023 second-round pick and San Antonio’s 2024 second-rounder for Reid. With the T-Wolves’ big man seen by many as a potential flight risk for Minnesota, getting something for him now seems wise. Reid has demonstrated an ability to adapt to a changing role this season.

As a player likely to feel the squeeze in free agency this offseason, the former LSU player might end up being retainable for Boston should the club believe it needs frontcourt insurance beyond this season.

Able to play the 4 or 5, Reid would allow double-big lineups that could let one of the Celtics’ star wings rest, or fill in for oft-injured Robert Williams III or nearly 37-year-old Al Horford to preserve them for the postseason while being a solid option should Boston lose either for an extended period.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

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