NAZ REID IS TRENDING, BUT WHY STOP THERE? THE WOLVES' SECRET WEAPON IS NO LONGER A SECRET ======================================================================== Published: February 22, 2025 Author: Daniel Conderman Context: Recovered Conderman.Group basketball commentary Original URL: https://conderman.group/2025/02/naz-reid-is-trending-but-why-stop-there-the-wolves-secret-weapon-is-no-longer-a-secret/ Naz Reid is trending. Twitter (or whatever we're calling it these days) is buzzing, NBA analysts are scrambling, and Timberwolves fans are either celebrating or panicking, depending on how terminally online they are. But why? Has the internet just now realized that Minnesota's bearded enigma isn't just a fun bench guy who shoots threes and vibes? Apparently, it took a 27-14-7 stat line against the best team in the West for people to go, "Oh, wait, Naz Reid is actually a real problem for opposing teams." The Sixth Man of the Year from last season isn't just Minnesota's best-kept secret anymore -- he's the cornerstone that nobody wants to admit is holding this thing together. And if you think that's an exaggeration, you might not have been paying attention. THE EVOLUTION OF NAZ: FROM "NICE STORY" TO "CERTIFIED THREAT" ------------------------------------------------------------- Once upon a time, Naz Reid was just another undrafted guy with a skill set that didn't make sense. He was too big to be a wing, too small to be a center, too skilled to be ignored, and too inconsistent to be counted on. Fast forward a few years, and he's checking all those boxes in a way that makes traditional NBA archetypes look outdated. He's shooting 40% from deep. He's protecting the rim when needed. He's slashing through defenses like a guard, finishing with angles that shouldn't make sense. And, most importantly, he's doing all of this without an ounce of diva behavior. The Wolves have had their fair share of dramatic Big Threes in the past -- Jimmy Butler's anger issues, Wiggins' indifference, KAT's inconsistency. But Naz? He just works. THE WOLVES' REAL BIG THREE: EDWARDS, GOBERT, AND REID ----------------------------------------------------- Look, I know. The marketing folks want us to buy into the Gobert-Edwards-Randle era. Karl-Anthony Towns was supposed to be the guy until he wasn't. The Wolves' roster is like a game of NBA 2K where the GM just keeps hitting "simulate trade" until the cap sheet screams for mercy. But at some point, you have to admit: the best version of this team is one where Naz Reid is at the core. He's the best shooter for his size on the roster. He's the most mobile big they have. He's the only player who can go from rim protector to secondary playmaker in the same possession. He never coasts or disappears in big games. That's not just a good bench player. That's a dude you build around. WHY NAZ REID IS TRENDING: THE "OH SH*T" MOMENT FOR CASUALS ---------------------------------------------------------- Every season, there's a moment when the casuals catch up to reality. When the wider basketball world realizes that a player has transcended their role and become something more. For Reid, that moment was his dismantling of OKC on national TV. One of the best teams in the league. One of the best MVP candidates in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. And yet, the guy who stood out the most? The Wolves' backup center. It's the kind of performance that makes front offices start throwing out trade packages and makes fanbases start panicking about how they've never appreciated a guy enough. The Wolves would be insane to trade him, but then again, this is the NBA, where sanity is in short supply. WHAT HAPPENS NEXT? THE WOLVES HAVE TO MAKE A CHOICE -------------------------------------------------- If Minnesota is serious about contending, they need to treat Reid like what he is: a foundational piece. No more trade rumors. No more "sixth man" labels. If anything, he might be the Wolves' second-most valuable player behind Edwards. Yes, I said it. I dare you to prove me wrong. So go ahead, internet. Make Naz Reid trend. But don't act surprised when he keeps backing it up.