JUNE 28: Reid’s three-year extension with the Timberwolves is official, the team confirmed in a press release.
JUNE 25: Days before he was slated to hit unrestricted free agency, Timberwolves center Naz Reid has agreed to sign a three-year, $42MM contract extension to stay in Minnesota, his agents Jeff Schwartz and Sean Kennedy inform Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN. Reid’s new deal will include a player option for 2025/26.
As Woj notes, Reid enjoyed a well-timed breakout season in 2022/23 as the Timberwolves’ third big man, averaging career bests of 11.5 PPG (on .537/.346/.677 shooting splits) and 4.9 RPG. He also chipped in 1.1 APG, 0.8 BPG, and 0.6 SPG across his 68 contests with the team.
The 23-year-old first joined Minnesota on a two-way contract after going undrafted out of LSU in 2019, and by his second season in 2020/21 had carved out a major rotation role with the team.
Reid’s reported new contract represents a massive pay upgrade for the 6’9″ reserve. The $1.9MM minimum salary he earned in 2022/23 had been his prior pay peak.
Based on Reid’s previous contract, the most Minnesota could offer in an extension prior to free agency was a starting salary of $12.95MM, which is 120% of this season’s estimated average salary. It appears the Wolves offered that full amount, so his deal will be worth just shy of $14MM in year two, with an option worth just over $15MM in year three.
According to Matt Williams of ESPN (Twitter link), Reid averaged 0.78 points per minute following the 2023 All-Star break, more than any other NBA center aside from MVP Joel Embiid.
Before Minnesota offloaded significant assets to Utah in a trade for former All-Star big man Rudy Gobert last summer, Reid had looked like he might be in line to form the team’s frontcourt of the future alongside maximum-salaried power forward/center Karl-Anthony Towns.
Reid had emerged as one of the premium big man prospects heading into free agency this summer, potentially capable of earning more money and a starting gig on another team given his upside, so it’s fascinating to see him opting to stick with his current team and role.
Nice signing. I thought the rockets would attempt to grab him if they struck out on Brook Lopez. Should be a better year for the wolves, Rudy and Kat have a little more time to gel
Minnesota Timberwolves just made one of the best free agent signings we will see this offseason. He’s young and oozing with potential to be nice on both ends of the floor. Timberwolves got what it take to be a much better team this upcoming season. Rudy Gobert is one of the best defensive players in the NBA and I see him having a better season this year than last year. Karl Anthony-Towns is one of the best shooting big men in the NBA and very good offensively. They need him to show up to camp in shape and be healthy. Jaden McDaniels and Anthony Edwards both going to get rookie scale extensions this offseason. Two young studs that bring it on both ends of the floor. Naz Reid compliments the whole roster. Kyle Anderson is extremely solid and has the complete package to his game. Mike Conley Jr. is still good but more of a backup Point Guard at this stage of his career. Nickeil Alexander-Walker is another guy they need to bring back for he can be the backup Point Guard. He got potential to fit in perfectly with this team.
You lost me at Kyle Anderson “has the complete package to his game”
Anderson was really good this year no joke.
I was hoping they were able to keep him!
Let’s gooooooooo!!!!!
Damnnnn, was my #1 feasible target for the MLE (they’re aren’t many) for Lakers, a guy I woulda structured operating below the Lux tax for, this hurts. at least the info broke early so other teams could re-route themselves in time.
Nice bizness here for both parties, Naz beats the MLE/ gets some years. I was curious if he’d top 12 per, thought he would be its still a bet on the come even despite the intangibles
I still liked SAS better for him and even Hou/Indy but cant blame him securing the bag today
Kings and Lakers now can steal McDaniel and Nowell.
Reid is worth 3-year $60mm.
??? McDaniels is still under contract, he isn’t going anywhere any time soon.
You are right
8th seed Wolves are far better than Blazers and Rockets
Blazers and Rockets want to be title contenders now
I’m not sure why you mention this. There’s a reason the blazers and rockets both picked in the top 5 of the draft. They are both rebuilding, not so much in Portland’s view. You seem to just like to hate on teams for no reason
You can have nowell. Wolves don’t want him back
Incorrect. It’s 3 years 42 million
Sullivan is not “incorrect.” He’s giving his opinion on worth. The contract Minnesota has agreed upon is the max they can offer and Reid decided to go for it. No one’s incorrect.
What?? The numbers are 3 years 42 million which is what he signed for. Anybody saying any other numbers are wrong. I bet you’re a fan of the new common core standards when it comes to math, it’s not about if you get the correct answer anymore it’s how you came to that answer that really counts.
Seems sillyman has found his new best friend on here. Defending him in every post
You sir have been muted
Lol
Reid and Walker Kessler would have made a versatile and cost efficient combo at center.
Nice contract, and getting ahead of the market is probably the only way MIN could overcome the disadvantage they have based on the depth chart. Not a fan of Mr Nice Guy, but this is something he does well.
Still, he might regret it, even if Reid’s skill are consistent with the salary. If he doesn’t play to the salary, even if it’s “not his fault” because he doesn’t have the role or minutes to do it, the contract won’t age well. At this position, there isn’t much pricing power, and thus teams don’t have to take a risk that a guy can do more than he’s currently doing.
I was hoping the Knicks would sign Naz Reid. Naz would have been the perfect compliment to Mitchell Robinson and if/when Mitch got hurt.
Now it’s back to the drawing board.
They have Hartenstein and Toppin when they go small. Sims if things get really bad. Why would they point $14M per on a backup to possibly the backup?
There goes another top free agent from this years free agency…
Trades are the way to build a team these days… Free agency is meaningless if the top talent is signing extensions…
And there are going to be a few more Mozgov contracts…
Nice story, from two way contract to millionaire.
Okay time to move KAT.
Gobert and Reid cover everything you need. Defence, size, shooting, rebounding, athleticism.
KATs skill set is better used in a guard or forward and if you had a max player that did what he does in one of those positions you’d be a much better side.
Trading KAT doesn’t leave a hole in the rotation at all and you have much bigger needs to fill.
The two big experiment didn’t work or show signs of potential like AD and Boogie in the past. KAT has served his time, now it’s time to try something new …
Don’t the Timberwolves already have two capable centers* with cap-eating contracts? Why spend for a third? A trade could be in the works here.
*KAT is listed as a power forward, but make no mistake- he’s a center by any reasonable definition…
They can trade him at the deadline. If the let him walk for nothing then they have nothing.
Gives them a greater latitude to potentially trade KAT as well
I don’t think A-Rod and Co have the stomachs to take the 48 hr media bashing of the limited haul that it would receive,,,,,,yet .
Maybe after another (potential failed year) we will see KAT traded (for much less/Beal territory as that ext kicks in mightily)
I as well would look to move Kat today and take the lump, Id trade him for as little as Batum Mann Zubac the first rder they just got at 30 and Clips 2028 pick if it was on the table. See him a T wolve tho opening night
Reid was vital last year. He knows he probably could have got more elsewhere. Glad he’s back.
Rudy — 41 mill next yr 44 mill
KAT — 36 mill next yr 50 mill
Reid — 14 mill
I guess they got the Center position covered.
They sure have a lot of money invested in that center position. I just can’t even imagine being a twolves fan lol.
You remain a fan of your team through good times and bad. Good decisions and bad. I’ve been a Red Sox fan since 78 and the entire ’80s and ’90s were horrible.
Same with the Warriors since about 87. Couple good Run TMC years and then nothing but the lottery until 07. Then more Lottery until Curry came around. Mostly 30 years of crap. But you can’t ditch your team you hang tough.
Trade KAT for Role players and future picks.
Rudy to NY ……. Sacrebleu
Randle, Quickley, Fournier, #1 pick, 2 second rd picks.
I nutted
The strategy of the Timberpuppies is to put 5 Centers out on the court at the same time. Imagine the mismatches !!
Congrats on the UDFA signing of Reid !!
Of course you HAVE TO HAVE THAT LUCK WITH UDFA when the organization has made such an overwhelming number of MISSES with the use of Draft Choices !!
How about a recap of all the First and Second Round draft picks that the Timberpuppies have WASTED by:
picking the WRONG player,
trading them away for a player that didn’t work out,
trading them away to get rid of a player that didn’t work out,
using them on a draft and stash that never came to the NBA,
sold them for cash,
traded them for future picks that didn’t work out.
The average Joe SixPack could have done better from 1989 thru 2023 with draft picks using a dart board !!