Tag: Naz Reid

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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Two centers, forward proposed by Bleacher Report as Boston Celtics trade targets

Do any of this trio of players make sense for Boston to pursue?

The 2023 NBA trade deadline is inching ever closer, producing a wave of projections about what the NBA’s 30 ball clubs might look to do by the end of the business day on Feb. 9. Included among them are projections about the Boston Celtics’ potential trade targets such as a recent article by Bleacher Report’s Zach Buckley.

In Buckley’s piece, the Celtics are encouraged to look at a trio of potential trade targets who might address concerns the team is reportedly looking to fix in their frontcourt rotation and on the wing. To such an end, the B/R analyst identifies two centers and a forward that might be what Boston needs.

Let’s take a look at the candidates.

Four realistic targets for the Boston Celtics’ 2023 NBA trade deadline

Who are reasonable trade targets given the financial and structural issues the team needs to consider?

The Boston Celtics are rumored to be looking into potential trade targets in the frontcourt and on the wing ahead of the 2023 NBA trade deadline. But given the state of the club’s draft asset collection and the team’s overall tax bill — not a minor issue — it seems unlikely the Celtics will make a major move to find such players.

And with the best record in the league, that makes a world of sense. But that also isn’t necessarily a reason not to improve the team via trades if the right candidates are available through such a route.

But who are reasonable trade targets given the financial and structural issues the team needs to consider?

NBC Sports Boston’s Chris Forsberg recently revealed four such players he thinks make sense for Boston — whether a bigger deal for Jakob Poeltl, something more reserved such as Naz Reid (our favorite), splitting the difference with PJ Washington or a wing like Alec Burks.

Take a look at the clip embedded above to hear his takes on a recent episode of “Celtics Post Up”.

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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Report: Celtics seen as unlikely to deal for San Antonio Spurs big man Jakob Poeltl

The Boston Celtics are not seen as likely to trade for San Antonio Spurs big man Jakob Poeltl.

The Boston Celtics are not seen as likely to trade for San Antonio Spurs big man Jakob Poeltl according to league sources outside the Celtics organization according to new reporting from The Athletic’s Jay King. Per King, said sources note that “if the Spurs do deal him, the impending free agent would make more sense somewhere he is a better long-term fit,” particularly considering that the team recently extended Al Horford and have Robert Williams III locked up for the near-term future.

Still, as have many, King makes the case for the Celtics pursuing big man depth of a slightly lower caliber given what we’ve been hearing, what we have seen from the team on the court — and what we know about the big men already on the roster regarding health and age.

King offers up some alternative targets in PJ Washington, Mason Plumlee, or Jae’Sean Tate, acknowledging they aren’t the sort of traditional centers Boston might be expected to look for.

The first two are intriguing but would require substantial salary ballast in Plumlee’s case and draft assets as well in Washington’s, with Tate being short enough at just 6-foot-4 that playing him as a functional 4 with the Celtics may be a bit of a gamble.

Instead, we propose using such a roster spot on a player with size able to provide a different look than the bigs and forwards on the team’s roster now like Naz Reid or Nick Richards.

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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The Ringer: Brooklyn Nets have inquired about Minnesota big man Naz Reid

The Ringer reports that the Nets have shown interest in Minnesota big Naz Reid.

With the 2023 NBA trading deadline a little over two weeks away (Feb. 9), trade rumors are starting to pick up. The Ringer’s Kevin O’Connor reported on Tuesday that the Brooklyn Nets have inquired about Minnesota Timberwolves center Naz Reid. This news shows that the Nets are looking for a big that can either play alongside the rapidly improving Nic Claxton or that can be an effective backup in the event that Claxton gets in foul trouble or isn’t able to play for some reason.

Throughout this season, Brooklyn has been linked to big men like Atlanta Hawks forward John Collins, Milwaukee Bucks center Serge Ibaka, and now, Reid. It sounds like the Nets will make a move at some point and that they have a good amount of options on the board. Reid is averaging 10.2 points and 4.8 rebounds per game while shooting 53.7% from the field in 17.9 minutes per game while backing up Rudy Gobert and Karl-Anthony Towns this season.

Here’s what O’Connor had to say about the Nets showing interest in Reid and what surrounds a possible move for him:

“HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto reported on Monday that Timberwolves center Naz Reid has drawn interest from the Clippers and Nuggets. I’ve heard from league sources that the Nets have also inquired about Reid, so there would be competition for him if Minnesota chose to move him, though the price for the upcoming free agent wouldn’t be significant.”

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Best low-cost wing and big man trade targets for the Boston Celtics

The Celtics may add a wing to help take pressure off of their stars, as well as look at a big man who might be able to ease the minute load on the ball club’s frontcourt.

The Boston Celtics will likely make a move or two ahead of the 2023 NBA trade deadline to add a wing to help take some pressure off of their two stars Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, as well as taking a look at a big man who might be able to ease the minutes load on the ball club’s frontcourt.

With Brown and Tatum among the highest minutes-per-night players in the league and bigs Al Horford and Robert Williams III likely also playing more than they ought to be in order to be fresh and at their respective peaks for the 2023 NBA Playoffs, both bigs and wings are likely priorities. And with a hefty tax bill already on the table, cheaper solutions in terms of salary and asset cost that would raise the team’s payroll little or not at all will probably be the preferred route.

With that in mind, we put together a comprehensive list of such options the Celtics might target that wouldn’t need more than a first-round pick (and some much less) plus younger prospects in a reasonable deal.

Bleacher Report proposes a trio of Boston Celtics big men as trade targets

And we propose our favorite of the trio.

The Boston Celtics may have signaled their intentions to make a move at the 2023 NBA trade deadline by dealing away veteran big man Noah Vonleh to the San Antonio Spurs earlier this week, the Celtics now possessing an open roster spot they can use to absorb a player in a trade.

That could take the shape of the team using one of their larger traded player exceptions (TPE) or their injured player exception created by the loss of vet forward Danilo Gallinari, or even trading out a high-salaried player in exchange for two in return so long as the financials line up with CBA requirements.

Should Boston elect to eschew the buyout market and go for a trade, Bleacher Report’s Zach Buckley has highlighted a trio of big men the Celtics might consider targeting — let’s take a look.

Luka Garza signs two-way deal with Minnesota Timberwolves

Iowa center Luka Garza has found a new home with the Minnesota Timberwolves, signing a two-way deal.

Luka Garza has a new home in Minnesota.

The Athletic and Stadium NBA inside Shams Charania reported that the Minnesota Timberwolves have signed former Iowa center Luka Garza to a two-way deal. Already under contract, the real news is that they are converting the deal to a two-way contract.

Garza’s confirmed position in the Wolves’ organization comes following a strong showing in the NBA Preseason. Garza averaged 7.3 points and 2.3 rebounds while shooting just over 61 percent from the floor. Minnesota head coach Chris Finch called Garza a perfect fit for the Timberwolves system following Minnesota’s 118-113 win over the Lakers.

“He’s the perfect system fit for us. Great acquisition by our front office. He’s a guy I think can really grow into our system here. He can stretch the floor and he can score around the basket. That’s a great combo. Not a lot of bigs can do that,” Finch said.

Garza displayed the three ball this preseason, hitting 66% of his 3-point attempts.

Given Minnesota’s current center situation, bringing in multiple-time Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert alongside the returning Naz Reid, it seems more likely than not that Garza will spend most of the upcoming season with the Timberwolves’ G-League affiliate.

Garza was a standout performer for the Motor City Cruise, Detroit’s G-League affiliate, earning a spot on the All-NBAGL third team last season.

While the 23-year-old may not see a ton of playing time this season with some more established talent ahead of him on the depth chart, his ability to stretch the court from the center position could provide value off the bench.

Even if it is not this year though, it does seem that Finch and the Wolves are keen on building Garza’s game and keeping him around as a system fit for the future.

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2019 NBA redraft has Sixers taking Naz Reid with Matisse Thybulle gone

In a 2019 redraft, the Philadelphia 76ers select Naz Reid with Matisse Thybulle long off the board.

The 2019 NBA draft was an interesting one for the Philadelphia 76ers. They only focused on one player, Matisse Thybulle, and traded up four spots to grab him from the Boston Celtics.

The Sixers selected Thybulle at No 20, and the defensive standout from Washington has been terrific on that end of the floor. He has even made the NBA’s all-defensive teams.

In a 2019 redraft put together by Bleacher Report, Thybulle goes No. 10 due to what he has done at the NBA level and the Sixers end up selecting Naz Reid with the 24th pick. For this exercise, Sixers Wire assumes Philadelphia kept the 24th pick instead of moving up to 20.

B/R on Reid:

Naz Reid has quietly become one of the league’s more reliable backup centers over the last two seasons.

During that stretch, he’s averaged 9.7 points, 4.2 rebounds, 1.0 blocks and 0.8 threes in only 17.4 minutes per game. (That equates to 19.7 points, 8.6 rebounds, 2.0 blocks and 1.6 threes per 75 possessions). He’s hit 34.7 percent of his threes, too.

Reid would have been a great backup center to Joel Embiid; he would be a long-term solution due to his youth and his ability to do a variety of things on the basketball court. He has had a solid career with the Minnesota Timberwolves after going undrafted.

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