The Minnesota Timberwolves and Naz Reid have reportedly agreed on a three-year deal that will keep the reserve center in Minnesota. According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the contract is worth $42 million and has a player option.
Timberwolves center Naz Reid has agreed on a new three-year, $42 million deal with a player option, his agents Sean Kennedy and Jeff Schwartz of @excelbasketball tell ESPN. Undrafted out of LSU, Reid had his best season with 11.5 points and 4.9 rebounds. pic.twitter.com/YtBjdggxMa
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 25, 2023
Reid arrived in Minnesota as an undrafted free agent out of LSU prior to the 2019-20 season and has developed into one of the key players on the Timberwolves’ bench.
Reid, who will turn 24 in August, is coming off a career year, averaging a career-high 11.4 points and 4.9 rebounds per game last season. Despite his breakout year, his return to the Wolves was not a given as Minnesota has a loaded frontcourt that includes Karl-Anthony Towns and Rudy Gobert in the starting lineup and Luka Garza as a reserve.
But Reid was recently seen at Mayo Clinic Square during a team workout and The Athletic’s Jon Krawczynski reported this week that both sides wanted to get a deal done.
“Reid loves his teammates, respects his coaches and has enjoyed his time in Minnesota, where he has developed from a doughy, undrafted free agent with an injured foot into a lean, mean, key rotational piece with one of the best handles for a big man in the entire league,” Krawczynski wrote. “The Timberwolves want him back. That is true from the very top of the organization down through the front office and coaching staff. Taylor, Marc and Rodriguez are all on board with trying to get Reid back”
In the days leading up to the new league year, it appears the Timberwolves have got their guy. Now the Timberwolves will look to add to a team that has made back-to-back playoff appearances for the first time in 20 years.
