The Minnesota Timberwolves had a difficult decision to make this past summer. At the time, it looked like they may have made the wrong choice. 30 games into the season, that has been confirmed: choosing Naz Reid over Nickeil Alexander-Walker has been a disastrous mistake.
Julius Randle, Naz Reid and Nickeil Alexander-Walker were all key rotation players on the Timberwolves team that reached back-to-back Western Conference Finals, and all were up for new contracts this offseason. With the NBA’s heavy-handed limitations placed on teams above the second tax apron, Minnesota decided it couldn’t justify bringing all three back on market deals.