Naz Reid Rumors

This offseason, the Timberwolves reached a deal to bring back Naz Reid and Randle before free agency began on June 30 but elected not to sign reserve Alexander-Walker. A new contract for the guard would have put the Timberwolves over the second apron once again. They are currently $5.9 million below the threshold. "What the apron rules do to teams is force you to prioritize what players to retain and also put a greater emphasis on your former draft picks to play a greater role," an Eastern Conference executive told ESPN.

ESPN

The Suns are well-stocked at center now after their recent trade for Charlotte's Mark Williams and the draft selection of Duke's Khaman Maluach with the No. 10 overall pick, but word is that first they tried to engage Minnesota in sign-and-trade discussions for Naz Reid before those moves.

marcstein.substack.com

Shams Charania: Wolves officials and Randle's agents, Aaron Mintz and Steven Heumann of CAA, have been ironing out details of this new deal. Minnesota locks in Randle and Naz Reid over the last several days.

x.com

Yossi Gozlan: Naz Reid's raise makes keeping both Julius Randle and Nickeil Alexander-Walker costly without reducing payroll. For example, Randle opting in and Alexander-Walker re-signing for $14.1 million (mid-level) puts the Wolves over the second apron and increases tax by $65 million.

bsky.app

Shams Charania: Just in: Minnesota Timberwolves' Naz Reid intends to sign a new five-year, $125 million contract to stay with the franchise, including a player option, sources tell ESPN. Critical agreement between the Wolves and Reid's agents, Sean Kennedy and Jeff Schwartz of Excel Sports.

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Shams Charania: Reid declined a $15 million player option for next season and chose to stay with Minnesota despite a vibrant market developing of teams interested with similar money but with starting roles. The 2024 Sixth Man of the Year and Minnesota are locked in for the long term.

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Jon Krawczynski: Chris Finch asked by @PAOnTheMic if he expects Naz Reid and Julius Randle on the team next season: "Absolutely, yes."

x.com

Golden State’s biggest weakness is their lack of elite play at the big man positions. The Warriors were starting the 6-foot-6 Draymond Green and Trayce Jackson-Davis — a second-round pick who averaged 6.6 points last season — towards the end of the playoffs. “Their ceiling is really kind of the move that they make in the offseason to upgrade themselves athletically right in the front court,” says Davis. “I personally think they need some front-court athleticism to compete in the West with Nikola Jokic, Naz Reid and people like that.”

Basketball Insiders

Thus, having to pay Julius Randle and Naz Reid has many teams across the league with the non-taxpayer mid-level exception licking their chops to make a run at Alexander-Walker, including the Orlando Magic, who made a run at trying to acquire him before the trade deadline, HoopsHype has learned. Various executives around the league who spoke with HoopsHype are projecting Nickeil Alexander-Walker, 26, to garner the full non-taxpayer mid-level exception or close to it in free agency.

HoopsHype

As for the 25-year-old Naz Reid, the prevailing thinking since he won Sixth Man of the Year last season was that he’d decline his player option and enter unrestricted free agency. With a month before free agency, the prevailing notion remains that Reid – who views himself as a starting-caliber player – will decline his player option and become an unrestricted free agent in line for a significant pay raise. Re-signing Reid this summer is a priority for the Timberwolves, league sources told HoopsHype.

HoopsHype

Jon Krawczynski: Tim Connelly on Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Naz Reid and Julius Randle: "We’re very appreciative of what the market might look like. We’re pretty cautiously optimistic we’re in a good place with all of the guys. Most importantly, they want to be here."

bsky.app

Randle holds a $30.9 million player option that he must exercise or decline by June 29. Naz Reid has his own $15 million option that many around the league expect last season's Sixth Man of the Year to decline.

Marc Stein's Substack

The Pistons are among the teams with interest in Timberwolves big man Naz Reid, league sources say. Detroit is known to covet a floor-spacing big man and, according to sources, is likewise said to hold interest in Indiana's Myles Turner. Whether the Pistons have a tangible shot at acquiring either player, mind you, is far from clear.

marcstein.substack.com

Reid was the Sixth Man of the Year last season and has become a cult-like figure in the Twin Cities for his rise from undrafted rookie to impact player. He will turn 26 in August and likely will get interest from several teams looking for a dynamic big. The Wolves know how valuable Reid is to the team and the community and will have discussions in hopes of retaining him, team sources said.

New York Times