2. A deal with the Minnesota Timberwolves
Since entering the league as an undrafted free agent back in 2019, Naz Reid has proven himself to be a true overachiever, an energizer bunny, and has continuously progressed as an NBA-caliber big.
Though used predominantly as a reserve option with the Minnesota Timberwolves behind star Karl-Anthony Town, when given the opportunity to see a greater role within the rotation throughout his four-year tenure he has showcased a tremendous array of skills that, in Kline’s eyes, could be viewed as “a real gem” for the Grizzlies.
"“While he’s not the best defensive player, Reid is a physical wrecking ball that provides ample presence on the glass. Jackson is the Grizzlies’ switch-everything big and weak-side rim protector, which would allow Reid to play to his strengths in the painted area. Memphis would face a size deficit in a lot of matchups (Reid is only 6-foot-9), but the pros should outweigh the cons,” Kline wrote. “On the offensive end, Reid presents an intriguing blend of interior scoring and perimeter skill. He can grab-and-go in transition, operate as a playmaking hub at the elbow, or face up and use his strong 246-pound frame to bulldoze his way to the rim. There is untapped upside to letting Reid experiment a bit more offensively.”"
Big Jelly. pic.twitter.com/157Tprku0y
— Minnesota Timberwolves (@Timberwolves) October 20, 2023
Though he has only seen spot starts throughout his career, in such a role he has proven capable of flourishing, as he boasts averages of 13.9 points, 6.7 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 1.1 blocks, and a steal per game while shooting 47.8 percent from the field.
While there’s no denying his potential when it comes to this type of production along with the fact that he’s just 24 years old, outside of perimeter scoring it doesn’t appear that Reid provides much more to the Grizzlies than someone like, say, Xavier Tillman already does, as both are somewhat undersized center options who use brute force and high-end hustle to their advantage.
Adding Kennard as an outbound asset along with three total picks just seems to be a bit much for a slight upgrade, if that, to what Memphis currently has at their disposal.