Timberwolves center Naz Reid is adjusting to life backing up Minnesota’s All-NBA frontcourt of Karl-Anthony Towns and Rudy Gobert, writes Chris Hine of The Star Tribune. That has meant playing power forward in addition to center.
“Guarding different players and position,” Reid said of the change. “It’s very different actually.”
With Towns sidelined indefinitely due to a right calf injury, the 6’9″ Reid will get additional rotation minutes as a reserve. He should see more time at the five rather than the four until Towns is back.
“I wouldn’t say I can’t play the four… it’s a big role I’m going to be in within the next couple weeks,” Reid said. “I’m excited to be in that role and excited to help our team.”
The fourth-year big man out of LSU is averaging 7.8 PPG on 52.8% shooting from the floor, along with 3.7 RPG and 0.9 BPG, across just 14.3 MPG.
There’s more out of Minnesota:
- Two-way Timberwolves big man Luka Garza has recently shown out in his play for the team’s NBAGL affiliate, the Iowa Wolves. Hines wonders in another piece if the 6’11” center/forward can become a part of Minnesota’s future. Garza’s 29.8 PPG, on 62.8% shooting, leads the entire NBA G League, and he has also put up 9.2 RPG and 3.2 APG. “I love this system that we play with here,” Garza said of the coordinated approach of both the Iowa and Minnesota franchises. “We play a lot through the bigs, Karl and Rudy. It’s very evident and it’s kind of the same thing with me down there. We’re not only put in positions to score but make decisions and get guys involved.” Hine notes that Garza could get additional time at the NBA level with Towns unavailable.
- Rudy Gobert‘s new teammates continue to learn about how best to fit in with his game, Hines writes in another Star Tribune story. That extends to how Gobert feels about help coverage around the basket — he is not a fan. “When someone drives on me, unless I fall down, which doesn’t happen, just let me make a play,” Gobert said. “Then if they score, I’ll take the blame.”
- Following a largely successful nine-season run with the Jazz, Gobert was flipped to Minnesota in the offseason. Now, he’s gearing up for his first game in Utah as an opposing player on Friday, Hine writes. “I just want to enjoy the moment,” Gobert said. “There’s a lot of people that I have a lot of love for over there. There’s a lot of great memories. … I just want to enjoy the moment and, of course, get a win.” Gobert won three Defensive Player of the Year awards and made three All-Star teams during his time with the Jazz, though his teams failed to advance beyond the second round of the playoffs.
Rudy Gobert is averaging 1.3 blocks per game in 30.1 minutes per night.
Walker Kessler, Minnesota’s 2022 1st round pick who was traded to Utah, is averaging 1.8 blocks per game in 16.2 minutes per night.
I thought Rudy’s rim protection made Minny a title contender? It appears that they were a title contender before they gave up half the franchise for Gobert. Tim Connelly should be fired!
This trade is absolutely horrific!
The casual NBA fan might not realize that Gobert doesn’t rack up a lot of blocks because his reputation deters more shots then his blocks do.
So many times you’ll see guys do a 180 because they see Gobert in front of them. How many players can say that happens to them every game, usually many times every game?
Blocker Kessler is still getting challenged because not many players know how good of a shot blocker he is yet. He’ll get there. Seems to have all the tools.
The only thing Kessler needs to fix right away is his constant signaling on screens. He’s telling the defense where to go just as much as his teammates he’s screening for. Lol
He is increasingly not on the court enough at the key times to up the blocks. He is being hung out in the mid high by coaches whom have seen this show before. A thing which is now coupled with scouting reports on how to keep him there.
He is simply to far out from where he needs to be on offense and defense as a result.
Terry Stotts to the rescue.
Minnesota needs to trade Gobert if they are not going to trade KAT. This experiment is past, and it failed to achieve winning basketball. Everyone knew this, and yet it happened. Good thing for the Wolves is that Gobert has value, and can help a team light in the middle.
It’s still way early to call it a failure. They need another off-season to fit pieces around what Gobert brings. I like their roster. They just need confidence and a better strategy.
They traded their draft assets & cap strapped themselves. I’m not sure what pieces will be at their disposal that are going to solve the KAT/Gobert, no ball movement problem. Trading Gobert seems logical. I didn’t give a time frame, but I guarantee if this 24 games is reflective of the season something will happen in the off-season.
They still can sign players with the annual and bi-annual exceptions. Plus, they still have some good players they could trade. I do agree that trading KAT is the best thing they should do. They would be better served with a faster, more defensive 3 and D type guy. Not sure if that player should need to have a low post game or not? I’d have to watch their team more.