Endorsement for the undrafted!13.4 points 66 rebounds, 27 points + 7 three-pointers to beat the Mavericks, with an annual salary of less than 2 million.
Timberwolves player Naz Reed is a hugely underrated good player.
Today's Western Conference matchup, the Timberwolves beat the Mavericks away. Timberwolves player Reed was the biggest contributor to the team's victory. He came off the bench to finish with 27 points, six rebounds, and hit seven three-pointers in one go. Single-handedly penetrate the inside line of the Lone Ranger.
Reid has also played very well this season, and some time ago he was the only player in the league to play in the 180 club, the other being his teammate Downs. Reed's average per game is 134 points 66 rebounds, shooting 50% from the field, nearly 40% from three-point range, and more than 9% from the free throw line. There aren't many more efficient bench players in the entire NBA than him. Especially considering he's an insider.
Born in the draft, he was favored by the Timberwolves.
The 24-year-old Reed's career has not been smooth, and he has come to this point entirely thanks to his own hard work.
Reed is an undrafted pick. The 2019 NBA Draft produced a lot of outstanding players. The young Reed also announced his candidacy for the 2019 draft.
However, Reid didn't make it to the lucky one, and he became a nobody's undrafted pick. After all, in the NBA, where there are many long people, Reed, who plays center, is only 2.06 meters tall, which is really not outstanding. There are concerns about his defensive and offensive stability once he enters the league.
Thinking that his NBA career was hopeless, the Timberwolves came to the rescue of Reed. They signed Reid on a four-year, two-way contract.
The Timberwolves have always valued big men, especially big men like Reed who have a unique advantage.
Strong offensive ability and all-round technique.
Reed's biggest advantage is offense. He has solid skills, especially with a precise shot. His attack is 360 degrees without dead ends. Close to the basket, long to mid-range and three-point are his sweet spots.
In the past two years, Reed's catch-and-shoot has been perfected, and he can make steady contributions from the outside and even practice a good ball-handling offense. It's rare for a center who is almost seven feet tall to dribble and break through like a defender.
Last season, after Gobert joined, people thought that Reid would be affected a lot, but it was not. Reid played mainly on the bench and got more possession and performance opportunities on the bench. The team's second-team saw Reed as the heart of the attack, and he played like a star on the court.
Last season, Reed scored nearly 12 points in less than 19 minutes of playing time, and if converted to 36 minutes, Reed would easily hand over 20+10 data.
In the last 5 games, Reed has not scored less than double figures. The team has a record of 4 wins and 1 loss.
This encounter with the Mavericks in the West is bound to be won by the Timberwolves. Edwards returned in this game, but he did not feel well, and the Timberwolves' offense stalled for a while. That's when Reid stepped up to help the team.
In particular, in the second quarter, Reed scored 13 points and made 4 of 4 shots in a single quarter, hitting 3 three-pointers from the outside.
Reed can either cut inside or shoot three-pointers after blocking and dismantling, which is a big headache for defenders. The Mavericks' backup center couldn't guard Reed at all, and rookie Levi was also inexperienced when facing Reed, who was able to maneuver with feints and a tough body.
Helped the team to the top of the league.
This season, the Timberwolves finished first in the league, and Reed was indebted. In today's league, it seems like we're having a hard time finding a second player like Reed.
Reed is extremely adaptable on the offensive end, in addition to having extremely solid offensive skills and a wide offensive area, he is also a player who can take everything with and without the ball, and can seamlessly transition between the big forward and center positions.
If paired with a starter or star, Reid could open up space as a goalscorer. If he focuses on the second lineup, Reed can eat hard in the low post and break through the frame, or he can go down to create damage after covering.
In the past two years, Reed has gained weight and his confrontation has become stronger, and he has become more comfortable fighting with opponents on the inside. He can play at the No. 5 position, and Reed is often used as a power forward due to his ability to open up space, and he has been surprisingly well paired with Towns and Gobert.
When he signed a two-way contract with the team four years ago, Reed could get a salary of 6.1 million at most. In this way, his average annual salary is only about 1.5 million, which is a very valuable contract in today's league.
Reed is playing so well that he can at least get a contract with an annual salary of more than $20 million. Reed, who is in a contract year, has been outstanding in helping the Timberwolves finish first in the West and first in the league. Any team contending for a title needs a player of Reid's calibre and a modest salary.
Finally, the NBA has seen some outstanding draft picks emerge in the last 10 years. VanVleet, who played for the Rockets, was selected as an All-Star as an undrafted pick, and Reaves, who rose to prominence with the Lakers. Now Reed has also become one of the representatives of the league's undrafted draft, and he has used his hard work and superb skills to establish himself in the Timberwolves, and his future will be bright.
Readers, what do you think of Reid as a player?Welcome to leave a message in the comment area below the article.