For the past two years, Naz Reid has often played out of position. Despite being a natural power forward (or maybe even a small forward, though we need to see a larger sample size), Reid has been forced to play center due to the Minnesota Timberwolves roster construction following the Karl-Anthony Towns trade.
The numbers don't lie on this one. Per Cleaning the Glass, this past season, Reid played 53 percent of his minutes at center -- the Wolves had a solid plus-3.1 net rating, but with him at power forward, they had a plus-5.8 net rating. In the 2024-25 season, it was even more stark -- the Wolves had a plus-13.9 net rating with Reid at the four and a plus-3.4 net rating with Reid at the five.
Defensively is where we see the real difference, as Reid's rim protection simply isn't good enough for a center.
With the Wolves primed to shake up their frontcourt, Reid should earn a bigger role, especially with Julius Randle likely being out the door, which opens up a starting spot for Reid.
Rudy Gobert's future is up in the air, and while I would look to trade him, it's vital that the Wolves get a quality center back for either him or Randle.
One way or another, the Timberwolves must ensure they have a rim protector on their roster
The need for a rim protector does limit the Wolves' options to an extent. However, to maximize their chances of winning a title, Reid can't be a five.
And while 19-year-old Joan Beringer should have some level of a role, he can't be the team's lone rotational big man, or else Reid will be forced to play out of position again.
Last offseason, the Wolves signed Reid to a five-year, $125 million extension. That's starter money.
While it's fair to expect Reid to earn a starting role with Randle likely being on the move, the Wolves must make this transition seamless for him by pairing him with a rim protector, whether that be Gobert or someone else.
I've advocated for Nic Claxton as a Gobert replacement and as a target in a Randle trade. Claxton would help cover up Reid's deficiencies as a rim protector while giving the Wolves some more offensive upside at the five spot.
Still, it's far from a guarantee that the Wolves will be able to trade for someone like Claxton. If this happens, the Wolves might be better served keeping Gobert. It's worth noting that this duo has fared well together -- throughout the past four seasons, Reid and Gobert have a plus-7.8 net rating.
Ultimately, whether the Wolves trade for a big man or keep Gobert, they must find a way to cover up Reid's lack of rim protection and ensure that he's put in a position to succeed because, in the past two seasons, he hasn't been.
