Naz Reid - the agile bulldozer
When Gersson Rosas was with the Houston Rockets, he placed a premium value on the G League. Operating as the Rio Grande Vipers’ de facto general manager, Rosas turned out a steady stream on NBA caliber players - including, most recently, Danuel House - won multiple championships, and even jump started the career of Chris Finch, who will almost certainly be an NBA coach someday, and probably soon.
So it should come as no surprise that Rosas’ first move for the Iowa Wolves is a big one, as he closed Minnesota’s draft night by signing skilled, agile LSU big man Naz Reid to a two way contract.
Strengths:
At 6’9”, 255 lbs, Naz Reid has the body of a bull, but the mobility of a cat. Deceptively quick, Reid has solid handles on the perimeter, blindingly fast arms, and the body and ball control of a guard.
Reid’s post up skills reliably improved at LSU. He has a wide body to protect the ball, and a soft touch to finesse it over and around the arms of taller, rangier defenders. At the same time, he will attack with authority when he has a clear lane to the hoop.
Reid also moves the ball well, and has shooting touch, making 33% for his 3-point shots at LSU. In today’s NBA, having bigs who can knock down shots from the outside is practically a prerequisite. Naz has the sort of perimeter skills that teams crave in big men.
Bigs who can shoot are not all that uncommon anymore. But bigs who can also handle, spin, and finesse are still pretty rare. Naz has a unique combination of physical traits and skills that could develop into a quality NBA player.
Concerns:
Reid averaged less than a single steal and block per game. For a 6’9” big with a 7’3” wingspan, that’s too low. Naz will need to develop better awareness and communication on defense, and learn wo be more of an anchor than a floater.
Naz also needs to improve his feel in the low post, as he has a tendency to try turnarounds and hooks from too far out of the paint. A better grasp on when to kick out versus when to force up a shot will go a long way towards raising his level of play.
There are also concerns about his motor, and keeping him engaged when he doesn’t have the ball. Because of his size and skillset, Reid has been able to coast on his natural talent. He will need to be coached on a workout routine, practice habits, and going full speed during games.
In summary:
There is no doubt Rosas values Reid a great deal. Expected by many to be an early second round pick, it broke that Naz had signed a two way deal with the Wolves mere moments after the draft had ended, which means Rosas was in contact with his camp a good 30-40 minutes before then, as the draft was still ongoing, putting a contract on the table in the case he went undrafted.
For the Wolves, Naz will be a centerpiece for their G League team in Iowa. As a two way player, he’s also entitled time on the main roster (up to 45 days) where he can practice alongside Karl-Anthony Towns. Currently, the Wolves’ only true power forward is Keita Bates-Diop; in an emergency, Reid could be called on to step in mid-season. With his high skill and talent level, this gives the Wolves an excellent safety net in the case of injury or a trade that leaves them shorthanded.
Much as the Wolves got steals with Keita and Jaylen Nowell in the second round, they stole Naz Reid as an undrafted player. He has first round talent. Reid will instantly raise the basketball quality and fun factor of the Iowa Wolves. And with time and coaching to improve his feel for the game and lean out his body, he has a chance to work his way into the NBA.
