Clippers Trade Rumors: Timberwolves center being pursued?
Who would Clippers give up for Naz Reid?
The question of whether Reid would be a good fit on the LA Clippers has been answered in the affirmative; now the question becomes what the Clippers would have to give up in a trade and whether it’s worth paying that cost.
Reid makes just $1.9 million in the final year of his contract, which makes matching salary relatively easy. The Clippers could send Brandon Boston Jr. or Jason Preston to Minnesota to make the deal work. The question becomes whether a second-round pick added to the deal gets it done; likely not, especially given how well Reid has been playing lately and how many teams might be interested.
What if the Wolves require Terance Mann? In that scenario, the Clippers should hang up the phone. Mann’s defense of opposing guards and energy on the court cannot be replaced by anyone else on this team, and they don’t have an option ready to replace him. Perhaps a deal where they also land another player (such as San Antonio’s Tre Jones) would work, but that’s a lot of work when they already have Mann on a great contract and love what he brings to the team.
Next. This blockbuster trade would send Zach LaVine to the LA Clippers. dark
Should the Clippers pursue Naz Reid? Absolutely, and they can hope that the Wolves don’t find a better suitor and elect to move him rather than let him walk this summer. If the asking price gets to high, however, they should pivot and look for someone else; no backup center is worth a bidding war.