Naz Reid has been one of the most valued pieces on the Minnesota Timberwolves roster this season. After some terrific contributions in the regular season, it was expected that he would find himself in a solid position to demand a bigger contract extension once he tested the waters of free agency.
Unfortunately, this plan may face some challenges as the forward finds himself in a scandal, as a fan leaked chats and exposed him for using slurs and revealing other sensitive information.
Reid has been one of the Wolves’ most important players in this year’s postseason run. Notching an average of 14.2 points and 6.0 rebounds per game on 46.2% shooting from the field in the regular season, the 25-year-old had a massive impact on the team’s offense.
Although his form in the postseason was also quite solid in the first round, he saw a decline in output in the following rounds. With a scoring average of 10.4 points and 4.7 rebounds per game in the playoffs, it is evident that the forward went through a rough spot.
This downturn in form harmed the team as they came away with a loss in the WCF against the Oklahoma City Thunder. While consecutive losses in the WCF are difficult to cope with, the Wolves franchise finds itself in a complicated position with regard to Reid’s scandal.
The chats displayed Reid and the fan arguing over the forward’s performance. The fan had placed a bet on the former 6MOTY, which resulted in a loss for the fan.
The conversation became heated almost instantly, as the fan provoked Reid by hurling insults at him. However, the Wolves forward didn’t back down, repeatedly referring to the fan as “fat” and “broke”.
The conversation took a turn for the worse when the fan got particularly incensed and called Reid a “b*m”. To this, the forward responded by revealing critical negotiation details and said:
“Lmao, I’m a b*m about to get $100m? Lmaoooo and imma DM you when I do.”
It is crucial to note that this conversation happened before Game 5, when disaster struck and the Wolves were blown away by the Thunder after a 124-94 result. Given the situation, the fan returned to the chat to insult Reid once again.
Reid remains quite confident about his chances of receiving a $100 million deal in free agency. Considering the kind of attention he has garnered in the trade market, this can be justified. Unfortunately, his performances in the WCF will certainly throw a wrench in his plans.
The Wolves’ forward was relatively decent in Game 5 against OKC. He recorded 11 points and five rebounds on 5-8 shooting from the field. Unfortunately, the team was let down by some poor performances by their starters, as only Anthony Edwards and Julius Randle notched double-digit scoring, with 19 and 24 points, respectively.
The offseason will be a long one for both Reid and the Wolves. While the 25-year-old had aspirations of signing a massive deal in free agency, he may see a much more conservative offer floated his way if this matter isn’t resolved soon.
