Entering an offseason in which he’s set to likely decline his $15 million player option for next season and enter free agency, Naz Reid is ready for more.
More money, more responsibility, more playing time.
The question is whether he can find that with the Timberwolves.
That’s the plan. Reid has spent the first six years of his NBA career with the organization after signing with the Wolves as an undrafted free agent in 2019. His name has become a symbol of hope in these parts, as fans chant it, wave towels sporting it and even have it tattooed on their bodies.
The 2024 NBA Sixth Man of the Year is a Minnesota icon at the ripe age of 25.
Reid has always been comfortable here. He’s best friends with teammate Jaden McDaniels. He knows how pivotal the Timberwolves have been in his developmental process and appreciates that he can win at a high level here. It’s why Reid has no designs on skipping town.
“I’ve been here for six years, and I don’t plan on doing anything differently,” Reid said immediately after the Game 5 loss on Wednesday in Oklahoma City that ended Minnesota’s season in the Western Conference Finals. “Hopefully, it’s the same way, same feeling on the other side.”
Well, Timberwolves coach Chris Finch stated the organization’s intention is to bring all three of its potential pending free agents — Reid, Julius Randle and Nickeil Alexander-Walker — back next season. But that’s not all in Minnesota’s control.
Reid will have the final say on his landing spot. A 25-year-old big man with his vast offensive skillset figures to have numerous suitors this summer. He stated Thursday he plans on opting out of the final year of the deal he signed with Minnesota two offseasons ago — with what looked to be a discount at the time — with the intention of inking a longer-term contract likely featuring a big raise.
“I think that’s what the future looks like for me,” he said.
But exactly what would a future look like in Minnesota? Frankly, even Finch doesn’t know. NBA rosters are changing more often than ever before. McDaniels noted he thought Minnesota was going to “run it back” last offseason, then dealt Karl-Anthony Towns on the eve of training camp.
“We don’t know what the roster will look like, so I’m not really going to get into forecasting what our starting lineup is going to look like in October right now,” Finch said. “So, we’ll just have to see. And the first thing is obviously get those guys happy and re-signed.”
As of Thursday morning, Reid noted he hadn’t yet spoken with Timberwolves brass about his potential role on next year’s team. And role, he admitted, will play a part in his decision of where to sign this summer.
Finch noted Reid’s role with the Wolves has grown each season. But if Minnesota brings back Randle and Rudy Gobert, it would seem Reid would again come off the bench. That’s a product of being on a team that, as Finch said this season, had eight starter-quality players.
Reid was again one of the best reserves in the NBA this season. But is that still enough for the big man?
“Obviously, with each year that you grow, your expectations get higher,” he said.
Reid admitted he views himself as a starter in the NBA, though he said he’s “not completely ruling out” returning to Minnesota in a reserve role.
“It will be a lot to think about around that, for sure,” Reid said. “If you want to be in a winning position, sometimes you might have to sacrifice. So, I definitely view myself as a starter, but things happen, things change. You never know what’s ahead of you until you talk about it and until you go through it.”
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