Trading away a franchise cornerstone like LaMelo Ball after six years? Yeah, that was a tough pill for Hornets fans to swallow, no doubt. But the front office thought they’d hit a ceiling, and the return package, centered on former Sixth Man of the Year Naz Reid from the Minnesota Timberwolves, is already getting rave reviews. This dude is stepping up as one of the standout players for the Hornets under head coach Charles Lee, and the early returns are wild.
Coach Lee Is All-In On Naz Reid, And It’s Easy To See Why
New head coach Charles Lee has been hands-on in training camp, and one player has seriously impressed him: Naz Reid. Anyone who watched Reid with the Wolves knows his mentality and approach to the game, so this isn’t exactly a shocker for those familiar with his work. Lee himself is absolutely gushing about the new big man, saying, “The versatility of Naz has been displayed in so many different ways, defensively and offensively.” It’s not just about the game though. Lee loves the human being, too. “The human being, he’s phenomenal. I had a couple dinners with him, and he’ll get talking to you and telling stories, and you can just tell he loves the game. He loves his teammates. He’s really excited to get here.” That kind of praise from your head coach? It speaks volumes. Reid’s fitting in perfectly, and the group has done a great job bringing him along.
Reid’s Offensive Power Set To Reshape The Hornets’ Attack
Get ready, because Naz Reid is pretty much destined for a massive year. He’s arguably one of the most proven offensive players on this squad, and with Brandon Miller and Kon Knueppel now seen as the franchise cornerstones, having Reid around is a huge boost for their chances of actually winning games. After rocking the sixth man role for most of his career, it looks like Reid is locking in as a full-time starter for the Hornets. His offensive game is seriously versatile, giving them scoring from pretty much anywhere on the court. That ability to light it up also opens up tons of opportunities for other players, making everyone around him better. Moving forward, it’s clear Reid is going to be a huge favorite for Coach Lee this upcoming season.
Yeah, the Hornets aren’t being talked about as contenders, but after a surprisingly strong second half last season, they could absolutely be competitive. With Naz Reid leading the charge on offense and getting this much love from the coaching staff, it’s gonna be super interesting to see how far they can push things. The season’s just getting started, so let’s see what this squad can really do.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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