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2023 Orlando Magic Offseason Needs: Rim Protection and Low Post Enforcers

By Philip Rossman-Reich

Mar 19, 2023; Portland, Oregon, USA; Portland Trail Blazers forward Drew Eubanks (24) scores over LA Clippers guard Russell Westbrook (0) in the second half at Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Jaime Valdez-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 19, 2023; Portland, Oregon, USA; Portland Trail Blazers forward Drew Eubanks (24) scores over LA Clippers guard Russell Westbrook (0) in the second half at Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Jaime Valdez-USA TODAY Sports /
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Naz Reid, Minnesota Timberwolves, Jonas Valanciunas, New Orleans Pelicans
Jan 11, 2022; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves center Naz Reid (11) shoots the ball defended by New Orleans Pelicans center Jonas Valanciunas (17) in the second quarter at the Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports /

2023 Orlando Magic Offseason Needs: Rim Protection

Naz Reid, Minnesota Timberwolves

There are two big-name or big-money free agents everyone seems convinced the Orlando Magic will chase.

The first is sharpshooter Gary Trent Jr. The Magic have been connected to him since the trade deadline. And the team needs shooting and sharpshooters so desperately, they could overpay for him and have that spot in their rotation secured.

The other is to go with the big and get into the bidding war for Naz Reid.

Reid is a bit undersized, so he is not a real rim protector on that front. But he plays with a ton of energy and does all the grimy dirty things that teams like. He can shoot a little bit from the outside and defender bigger than his size.

He averaged 11.5 points per game and 4.9 rebounds per game with 0.8 blocks per game coming off the bench behind Karl-Anthony Towns and Rudy Gobert. He was vital to the team’s bench and his injury hurt the Minnesota Timberwolves a lot.

His stats do not look great. But he is an energetic guy who can succeed in the right situation.

As far as being a rim and paint protector, opponents shot 63.2 percent at the rim against him. So he breaks even there compared to the other Magic bigs he could be looking to replace.

Finding a good rim protector is hard. And Reid is not a perfect fit for what the Magic need. This may not be the guy they try to target with their cap space this offseason.

Still, Reid is a tough player. He plays physically even if at times he can get overpowered because of his size — he is listed at 6-foot-9, 264 pounds. That will help set a good tone defensively even if he is not the perfect player to fill the rim protection need the Magic have.