Instead of making a draft day trade in 2019, the LA Clippers should have held onto the second-round pick used on Jaylen Hands. This would have allowed the front office to select Naz Reid, a big man with an unorthodox playing style from Louisiana State University.
The Clippers may have evaluated Reid, but they did not think he would pan out to be the player he is today, which is why they saw no reason not to make an exciting deal.
It is important to note that this trade worked out for a few seasons, as the franchise landed Luke Kennard. He was undoubtedly a sweet pickup who did legendary things in an LA uniform.
Moreover, Reid went undrafted and signed with the Minnesota Timberwolves. He likely had multiple teams ringing his phone but narrowed down Minnesota as the team that best fit him.
To explain how great Reid is as a big man, he worked his way up in an insanely stacked center room with Rudy Gobert and Karl-Anthony Towns. These circumstances show the type of task he was mirrored with.
Reid’s minutes were at a career-high this season, and he responded with career-highs in several categories while also playing 80 games. He averaged 14.2 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 2.3 assists in 27.5 minutes after winning Sixth Man of the Year last season.
Conversely, Reid has been killing the Timberwolves with his shooting against the Oklahoma City Thunder, making him a realistic and easy target for the Clippers this summer.
The Clippers are gaining leverage through Naz Reid’s horrific performances over the Thunder
Despite having a Sixth Man of the Year award on record and three consecutive, efficient, double-digit scoring seasons, Naz Reid is lowering his free agent stock this summer. He was supposed to sign for a multi-year deal, netting around $100 million, but with the way he has been playing, the Minnesota Timberwolves may reconsider.
In game one of the Western Conference Finals, Reid posted four points in 28 minutes, shooting 1-11 from the field and 0-7 from a distance. In the following contest, game two, the veteran center was better but still atrocious, with ten points on 3-8 shooting and still zero made three-pointers.
The Timberwolves are down 0-2 to the Oklahoma City Thunder, and if they do not win four out of five, Reid could decline his player option this summer. This leaves him as a target for the LA Clippers, where Lawrence Frank could offer him the mid-level exception.