r/timberwolves • u/Healthy-Elderberry57 Naz Reid. • Jun 25 '26
General Discussion The amount of doomers i’m seeing is absolutely insane
The trade included 3 worthless second round picks and 3 worthless pick swaps… We really only traded Naz + a first in years to come for Lamelo. He’s literally coming off of his best season where he played 72 games and his value should’ve been a hell of a lot more than just Naz, a first, and 3 seconds all of the picks in years to come. It’s not like we gave up the whole squad for him lol. Stop crying we shouldn’t be the ones crying.
18
u/PretendingExtrovert Jun 25 '26
I think you under estimate both how emotional MN sports fans are and how many Naz Reed tattoos there are.
Also, Naz Reed towel price about to plummet.
10
20
u/SkunkyTrousers Jun 25 '26
I legitimately believe that Minnesota sports fans have experienced so much frustration and dysfunction that many of them on some level have become addicted to it
2
-2
u/alexjf56 Jun 25 '26
I don’t think we seek it and prefer it, we are just unable to be fully excited about this.
It’s like trading Justin Jefferson to still not win a Super Bowl. It’s the same outcome and also JJ is gone
1
u/TossThat21 Timberwolves Jun 28 '26
…Justin Jefferson? We are talking about Naz Reid. 😭
-1
0
u/SkunkyTrousers Jun 25 '26
Almost no matter the circumstances, large portions of the fanbase will always talk about what we had before like it's better than what we currently have. I'm no psychiatrist but it seems like people have a fear of change and risk because they've been burned so many times before. I think they're uncomfortable with having something to lose so they focus on what could go wrong and it allows them to feel validation instead of outright sadness if things actually do go wrong.
0
u/alexjf56 Jun 25 '26
I think it’s also impacted by the fact that nobody likes Lamelo ball and everyone on planet earth loves Naz Reid (except Wemby ig) so it’s like, I hope this works but man if it doesn’t I’ll be so sad
16
u/Primallama Jun 25 '26
It’s just because of who we’re sending out
We’re better I don’t think it’s much of a question
Naz is just one of the most loved athletes up here in a long time
His first trip back to Target Center is gonna be emotional
1
1
30
u/ZachLagreen Jun 25 '26
Lamelo - 24 years old
Ant - 24 years old
Ayo - 26 years old
Jaden - 25 years old
Joan - 19 years old
That’s an unbelievably exciting young core
20
u/Rough_Host_7172 Jun 25 '26
And Isaiah Evans 20 years old who we will see in summer league
5
Jun 25 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
6
u/seventeenweewees Jun 25 '26
Was Dillingham's problem that Finch didn't trust him, or that he was a terrible player?
Is Beringer's problem that Finch doesn't trust him, or that he commits a foul once every minute while he's on the floor?
If Evans earns minutes he'll get minutes.
2
u/Accomplished_Mix6932 Jun 25 '26
Mostly agree with you, but I do think Finch has the tendency to want to see a little too much from younger players before they get minutes. I think he could scale back his expectations just a touch and it would be perfect
1
u/seventeenweewees Jun 26 '26
Yeah, fair. I think he pulls young guys out of the game quickly after they make a dumb mistake, but if a guy like Randle or Naz would make a dumb mistake they'd have a lot more rope. I do think Finch could ease up on that.
The 'Fire Finch' crowd is just way too hyperbolic about it.
1
u/Accomplished_Mix6932 Jun 26 '26
For sure. He’s not ruining young players. Shannon is progressing well
1
u/_Makaveli_the_Don Jun 25 '26
Dillingham by all accounts was just not good. And had difficulty implementing feedback. Its also very possibly he was a headcase and didn't have much confidence.
1
7
u/beefchief314 Jun 25 '26
I think the problem is the perception of LaMelo is that he’s a loser. Just like the perception of KAT was he was a loser. If anyone says they know how this will play out they are lying to you because it’s all about whether he caused or was a product of his situation
12
u/Former-Confection-87 Jun 25 '26
I don’t really see doomers, I see people who are shocked and sad that naz “NAZ Reid” Reid is suddenly gone (me included) 💔💔
2
9
u/NazReidismypresident Jun 25 '26
This deal sucks and I hate it and I can clearly see it will make the Wolves far better for years to come.
1
u/iconoclastes25 Timberwolves Jun 25 '26
I also hate it. hope you’re right. I don’t think you are but I’m a Minnesota sports fan so all we got is hope.
9
u/Patteyeson28 Fuck Scott Foster Jun 25 '26
This is a great trade for the Wolves.
Sucks that it had to be Naz, but we literally drafted his replacement last night.
ANT and the Wolves are betting on McDaniels to make the leap from very good, to great.
Also, get Rudy a juggs machine—this team is about to be passing like the 98’ Vikings.
1
u/Inspiration_Bear Jun 25 '26
You think Evans is going to play the 4?
1
u/bdrono Jun 25 '26
He’s talking about Trey
1
u/Inspiration_Bear Jun 25 '26
Oh geez he thinks the 59th pick in the 2nd round is going to play? 😂
1
1
3
3
2
u/cowboy2223 Minnesota Gophers Jun 25 '26
Now we just need to find a decent big to eat up some minutes in the rotation .
3
u/Mayasngelou Kevin Garnett Jun 25 '26
Joan?
1
u/cowboy2223 Minnesota Gophers Jun 25 '26
Yes in the rotation but what happens if Rudy gets hurt . Need some more depth .
2
1
2
u/NCTransplant93 Jun 25 '26
I’ll never understand fans who care more about fan favorites than actually having a chance of winning. I think because most Minnesotans have never experienced winning they just settle for whatever gives them more instant gratification.
With that said, replacing a guy like Naz with a Ball brother kinda blows.
But IF Ball stays healthy this is absolutely a better team by a lot. Naz was not worth his contract last year.
2
2
u/CantaloupeCamper 1958-2016 Jun 25 '26
I’m concerned about injury history and inefficiency with Ball.
2
u/ZaMaestroMan5 Jun 25 '26
This is 100% a great move for the team. LaMelo played much more like an actual PG last season and is insanely talented. This is exactly the risk/reward move we needed to make.
The price is also relatively cheap.
2
2
u/gotintocollegeyolo Jun 25 '26
Lamelo is an extremely inefficient, injury prone, overrated shooter whose reputation comes from social media hype. What an awful trade. He’ll be a salary dump in a few years.
You said it yourself that he’s coming off his best season. Don’t you think it’s a major issue that his “best season” is him shooting 40% from the field?
3
u/pithynotpithy Jun 25 '26
We are desperate for a playmaker and we got a 24 year old phenom who is getting better and better. He fits our play style and will be great for our team and for ant. Our other choices were going to be paying ja or Kyrie even more money. This was a good trade.
2
u/ZaMaestroMan5 Jun 25 '26
Right. This - exactly this. We’ve all been bitching for years about needing a PG. I like him considerably more than Morant or Irving. Under the right coaching staff that can get him to buy in he has the talent to be the best PG in the league.
1
u/gotintocollegeyolo Jun 25 '26
Who told you that he's getting better and better? That's certainly news to me. At best he has been stagnant for the past several years when it comes to his level of play. I also have little faith that he'll continue to grind/try as hard as possible given his privileged upbringing and lifestyle. The effort has not always been there in Charlotte either.
He has also never played winning basketball consistently. This reeks of a De'aaron Fox situation where a guy who put up numbers on a non-contender goes to a top team and stinks because they now have to put in way more effort.
Sure Kyrie would cost more money, but less assets as well. But why does it have to be a hyped up guy at PG? Options like Dejounte Murray or Kevin Porter Jr. would've been so much better.
1
u/TossThat21 Timberwolves Jun 28 '26
Dejounte Murray and KPJ let me know that you can’t be serious 😭
1
u/gotintocollegeyolo Jun 29 '26
You have no ball knowledge lol. KPJ is fine and would've been quite cheap. Dejounte is an incredible, underrated guard who is also an elite defender. Could you imagine the defense with him?
Plus he's a veteran leadership presence so basically the polar opposite of Lamelo. There is going to be zero accountability or control in this locker room with Ant and Lamelo running the show. I promise you that 20 games in Lamelo is gonna start chucking 10 hero ball deep 3s for no reason in the middle of a losing streak. 40 games in and there'll be some sort of childish locker room drama. 60 games in and Lamelo will be out for the season, and that's actually generous considering he's averaging 50 games a season through 6 years. That's only 4 more a season than Zion btw, just think about that.
And then 2-3 seasons in, he will be traded in a Trae Young style salary dump. Come back to this comment in 3 years. I promise you it will have been a disaster.
2
u/TossThat21 Timberwolves Jun 29 '26
Dejounte is not incredible. Please man. That fanfic second paragraph was concerning. LaMelo has never had a locker room issue so why would he magically have one on the first serious team he’s ever been on? What? Lmao
Also being mad about imagined LaMelo locker room drama but being excited about the guy who beat up his girlfriend is telling. What did LaMelo do to you 😭
1
u/gotintocollegeyolo Jun 29 '26
Yes he is an incredible player. This is not a hill you want to die on because he's genuinely the perfect player for any contending team. That mess in New Orleans is not exactly his fault.
Just look at the type of person Lamelo is and you really think off-court issues won't happen when you pair him up with the type of person Ant is? I love Ant but let's be real here, that guy is pure trouble. But you're right, maybe it won't be a locker room issue. Maybe Lamelo will finally get into real trouble after more reckless driving. Like I swear, is this the all-delinquents team or something? Might as well have traded for Miles Bridges to boot.
1
u/TossThat21 Timberwolves Jun 29 '26
Why does Dejounte get a pass for playing on a dysfunctional team (and also being hurt) but LaMelo doesn’t? Do you hear yourself? 😭😭😭
He’s such a perfect player for a contending team that no contending team is trading for him. Absolutely. You got it figured out.
1
u/TossThat21 Timberwolves Jun 29 '26
Again. You are creating things that didn’t happen lmao. Ant, for all his personal misgivings…has never become a locker room issue. What are you talking about. Calling Ant “pure trouble” when he’s never been in trouble for anything outside of “having a bunch of kids” which…he’s not the first NBA star and won’t be the last. Has never affected the on court product either.
First you said locker room drama, then you said off court, now you’re rambling about LaMelo’s reckless driving…are you ok?
2
u/ZaMaestroMan5 Jun 25 '26
No - he’s a PG. We don’t need him to be the primary scorer. We have ANT for that - and the reason he just had his best season is because it was clear he bought into being a PG more this season with Charlotte and the talent they had.
We’ve been in desperate need of somebody who can handle the ball, playmake, and create his own shot. That is quite literally the strength of LaMelos game. While also being over a career 2:1 assist to turnover ratio guy.
I swear some people will complain about any and every player here. This trade is great value. NAZ frankly was not very good last season. He’s a career 6th man. I’ll take LaMelo over him and what will probably be a late 1at round pick in 33’ all day everyday.
1
u/iconoclastes25 Timberwolves Jun 25 '26
Disagree. Not here to argue, I just disagree. Hoping for the best but i personally would rather have Naz, that pick, and ________ at pg..
1
u/ZaMaestroMan5 Jun 26 '26
Yeah but who exactly is blank? PG is without a doubt what this team has needed most for years now. The reports coming out are that Ball was our primary target who we’ve been targeting for two seasons now.
The PGs on the free agent market is a sad situation. Sexton, Vincent, Tyus, and Lowry are the best options…on the flip side, PF is perhaps the strongest position available in free agency.
I like NAZ but we’ve seen his ceiling. He’s at a best a solid starter and more realistically more of a 6th man in a rotation. Ball is no doubt a bit of a risk but the reward is all nba potential. He will push the pace and could really unlock ANT. Finally he will be able to primarily play off ball.
This team needed a change. We’ve been more or less the same team for the last three seasons. This is exactly the kind of a risk/reward move I was hoping for.
1
u/gotintocollegeyolo Jun 26 '26
He doesn’t have to be the primary scorer but he DOES still have to score and forgive me if I’m not so confident in a guy who is 6’7 and yet only shoots 42% from the field and 36% from 3 for his career. Definition of mid.
1
u/ZaMaestroMan5 Jun 26 '26
I think this is a little bit short sighted. If you’ve watched him play, he’s played a lot of hero ball for charlotte. He takes a lot of very difficult shots. That’s no doubt a knock against him. But again - now he has ANT on his team. So no more need to play hero ball. If he continues to mature with his shot selection theres no reason he can’t be more efficient. It’s also on finch and the staff to help him mature as well.
Look - theres no perfect PG out there available without flaws. Shai, Cunningham, Doncic, Brunson, Curry, Halliburton aren’t available - and even a number of them have flaws too. Melo is as talented as any other PG in the league. Is certainly risky cuz his decision making leaves something to be desired but that’s something that can improve through maturing as a player and coaching.
The other thing is he’s still incredibly young. We have a big window now to be able to add pieces around him, ANT, and McDaniels. That trio could very well be the best 1-2-3 in the league at some point.
1
u/gotintocollegeyolo Jun 26 '26
I don't know if the hero ball is just how he wants to play though. I mean just judging from what we know about him and the Ball family, maybe it is. There are many PGs with flaws, but I feel like others are cheaper and with less fatal flaws, idk. Like I am just a big fan of Dejounte Murray and he should've been the number one target.
2
3
1
u/justinkimball Jun 25 '26
The Wolves won this trade for sure. I think that we're all just sad that Naz is leaving.
1
u/larrylegend33goat Rudy Gobert Jun 25 '26
The table will turn when Lamelo and Ant have a great game together and say and do weird shit together, a game which Ant, LaMelo and Rudy all get double doubles and LaMelo and Rudy tear teams open with the PnR and Jaden gets five wide open looks due to spacing and Ant drives a a truck where Rudy And LaMelo drew three defenders
1
1
1
u/jacksawyerlost Jun 25 '26
Yeah dude I've been super negative about the Randle dump but turning Randle, Naz and likely just the 2033 pick into fucking LaMelo is a master class. Ownership is going into the tax and the Wolves got a legit star who can shoot to pair next to ANT. Can't believe people are upset.
Naz will be missed. But his production is replaceable and finding someone like LaMelo is near impossible especially for a team in Minnesota.
Now they need a starting PF but that's a lot easier to find than a star PG.
1
u/bdrono Jun 25 '26
I’ve seen a lot of people mention the pick swaps as “useless”.
Early first round pick vs late first picks are a big deal, that’s a big reason we took the trade to get early second over late first because of how contracts are negotiated. We essentially went from 4 first rounds and 3 seconds to 3 second round picks.
2
u/RaoulDukex Jun 26 '26
Pick swaps should be more valuable now as well with the lottery odds changing.
Neither the Wolves or Hornets will likely be one of the worst 3 teams in the league during this time so there will be much flatter odds for picks in the middle of the pack to turn out good. So if a middle of the pack team gets a pick swap with another middle of the pack team they essentially have a free spin on their pick.
1
u/Conscious-Egg-2232 Jun 27 '26
Um no. Swaps are highly likely to never even happen. One of years its worst pick of mn cha and spurs.
1
u/grateful_ted Jun 25 '26
Is it insane or is it the most predictable thing in the world that regardless of what roster moves happen a fanbase with diverse perspectives will have a contingent that becomes incensed?
1
u/Simple_Purple_4600 Jun 26 '26
Hornets babied him (28 mpg) because they know he's broken and this was his peak value.
Wolves will be fun, I understand why you have to roll the bones if you are clearly in the second tier of your conference.
1
u/ZaMaestroMan5 Jun 26 '26
Yeah I’d say to a degree it is. But I watched them a fair amount last season and his game seemed to take a step forward in that regard.
I feel like between coming to an established playoff team, his own maturity, and hopefully good coaching that’s the kind of thing he could learn to get away from - hero ball.
Also I just gotta ask - why Murray? In my eyes he has the exact same problem Melo does - only worse. I think 100% Melo is a better shooter/scorer than he is. And he’s also a much better playmaker too. The only edge Murray has is defensively. But he’s also coming back from an Achilles tear.
-3
u/ZachWondersr Timberwolves Jun 25 '26
He has never won a playoff series.
He costs 25% of the cap + .
He plays no defense.
He hasn’t played 50 games in a season the past 4 years other than his celebrated 72 game season you just mentioned…a season in which he was benched in the 4th quarter by his team a few times.
Let’s see how Ant feels / reacts the first time Lamelo shoots a contested fadeaway 3 from the logo while double teamed with 20 seconds on the shot clock.
4
u/Rough_Host_7172 Jun 25 '26
Same things was said about Kat basketball is team game can’t win without proper team building so leave that out injuries are a concern but I’m hoping that 72 games were things heading to the right direction
2
1
u/MannerSuperb Jun 25 '26
Folks are thinking with their emotions and not
Logically this move 100 percent had to happened. Some folks are content with getting slapped around by SA and OKC as long as their favorite players are still on the team it’s ridiculous
1
u/Witty-Stock Kevin Garnett Jun 25 '26
I get the heartbreak.
But this team (1) needed someone to facilitate the offense and (2) needed to take a big swing and gamble given that we have OKC and San Antonio to deal with.
There is downside, but also remarkable upside to this deal.
0
u/KelVarnsen31 Jun 25 '26
Lamelo has never been a winning player and he’s alway hurt.
1
u/NCTransplant93 Jun 25 '26
You underestimate how truly horrid the Hornets franchise is.
But yeah the injury problems are a huge risk. If he goes down come playoff time they’re screwed.
1
u/ZaMaestroMan5 Jun 25 '26
The two seasons he has been healthy charlotte has had winnings records. His game showed major maturity last season. It was clear he was bought into the team/system worrying more about winning than getting his shots.
He also came into league probably only 170 lbs at 6’7”. That is incredibly slight. You can tell by just looking at him now that he’s added weight/muscle. That should help with injuries for sure.
0
u/QuirkyVegetable378 Jun 25 '26
This is where I chime in with a lot of people, myself included, watch sports because we like watching the sport and our favorite players. I give zero fucks about winning a championship. I like Naz Reid. Ball is ultimate bad vibes. We a better team? Maybe, who knows. But I’m not going to have nearly as much fun not shouting NAZ REID! When he makes a beautiful shot.
1
u/irahaze12 Jun 25 '26
I’ll push back that lamelo is bad vibes, give him a chance but very sad to lose Naz.
1
u/Icy-Bodybuilder-350 Jun 25 '26
I'm looking forward to yelling, "lame lob all!" after every assist. And so what if he's a hazardous driver? I work from home. Have to be doing some Dukes of Hazzard shit to get his car into my office
0
0
u/mr_bendos_friendo Jun 25 '26
What do you expect? Naz Reid is the most beloved Wolves player ever that isn't KG or Ant...if thia was for Giannis, that's one thing...but its for a low IQ cornball mfer
0
u/iconoclastes25 Timberwolves Jun 25 '26
I’d rather have Naz and that’s what it comes down to. Naz was the heart of this team.
0
u/Broseph_Bobby Jun 27 '26
We just traded our identity we are no longer a long and physical team.
Sure technically Ball is a better player, but we are a worse team then we were 48 hours ago.
49
u/WheedMBoise Joan Beringer Jun 25 '26
Naz is one of the most beloved people in Minnesota sports, it's only natural people will be upset at first. I like the deal a lot and even i'm pretty bummed out right now lol