The Golden State Warriors are trying to find a solution with Kristaps Porzingis and his $20 million salary, with one possible answer emerging at the Charlotte Hornets on Wednesday night.
When Naz Reid didn’t play a single second in the second half against against the Detroit Pistons, there was an assumption that the skilled big was sick or dealing with an injury. Instead, head coach Charles Lee confirmed after the game that Reid had been completely benched as a result of not reaching team standards during the first 24 minutes.
Hornets' shock Naz Reid benching should put Warriors on trade alert
The decision to completely remove one of your best players from the game was a huge call from Lee, yet one that goes to show the standards he’s trying to set in Charlotte. It may have arguably cost the Hornets the game, having led the Pistons by seven at the half before going on to record an eight-point defeat.
Reid, for what it’s worth, had seven points and six rebounds in the first half, and is now averaging 17.0 points, 8.8 rebounds and 2.0 assists after being acquired in the bombshell LaMelo ball trade during the off-season
Is this just a blip on the radar in a long Charlotte career for Reid, or could it manifest into something more significant, and something the Warriors could capitalize on in their search for a more reliable center?
Reid makes $23.3 million this season, putting him around the same mark as Porzingis and therefore as a realistic target for the Warriors if the Hornets don’t believe the 27-year-old is a long-term part of their future.
Naz Reid could be an excellent fit with Golden State
Reid is already well known among Golden State fans, having earned a reputation as a notable Warriors killer over the past few years while with the Timberwolves. He also projects as an excellent fit with the team — someone within the sweet spot of their career who could aid to a depleted center rotation.
Reid would also bring a nice offensive complement to Draymond Green and Al Horford. He’s proven more than just a stretch big, rather as someone who can put the ball on the floor and make plays, and who could easily average 12 to 15 points as one of the best sixth men in the league for Golden State.
The only possible downside is the picks it would take for the Hornets to take on Porzingis' contract, along with Reid's long-term contract after signing a five-year, $125 million deal with the Timberwolves in 2025. Even despite those issues, he’s someone the Warriors should now be circling after that shock benching took place on Wednesday.
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