Naz Reid has been one of the most widely discussed players heading into the offseason. Owing to his pending decision to test free agency, Reid shared his thoughts on his role going forward while speaking with the media.
When asked whether he would consider embracing a bench role with the Minnesota Timberwolves next season and whether it was right for him, he said:
“It could be. I’m not completely ruling it out. There will be a lot to think about.”
This question was followed up by another regarding whether the forward viewed himself as a starter. Reid responded by saying, “Yes, 100 percent. 100 percent. But sometimes, if you want to be in a winning position, sometimes you might have to sacrifice. I definitely view myself as a starter. But things happen, things change. You never know what’s ahead of you till you talk about it or go through with it.”
Reid’s answer could be considered ambiguous to some extent. However, after another disappointing loss in the Western Conference Finals, the forward will have a lot to think about heading into the offseason.
The Wolves looked completely outmatched in the WCF against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Although they managed to record a dominant performance to secure a win at home in Game 3, Minnesota looked completely washed out after a 94-124 loss in Game 5 sent them home.
The Wolves forward was one of the primary culprits in the loss in Game 5. Reid has established himself as one of the best bench players coming into the postseason. After a dominant series of outings against the Los Angeles Lakers in the first round, the 25-year-old should have been the key element in dismantling the Thunder in this matchup.
Unfortunately, Reid struggled to get going, notching only 11 points and five rebounds in Game 5. This, when paired with other poor performances in the starting unit, exacerbated the Wolves’ elimination from the playoffs.
Reid saw a drastic dropoff in output in the playoffs. While averaging a solid 14.2 points and 6.0 rebounds per game in the regular season, the forward saw his numbers decline to 10.4 points and 4.7 rebounds per game.
This will be a cause for concern as the 25-year-old seeks a new contract in free agency. Reid has garnered the attention of several teams in free agency, the Pistons and the Lakers being among them. However, this decline in performance may raise some questions regarding his ability to perform in the playoffs.
In addition to this, a recent scandal involving Reid, wherein leaked chats revealed the forward using slurs to insult a fan and revealing sensitive contract information, may cause more problems to his image. With the situation slipping away from control, the forward would be best advised to mend things before making any moves in free agency.
