Minnesota Timberwolves big man Naz Reid has put an end to speculation about his future. NBA insider Shams Charania reports Reid intends to sign a five-year, $125 million contract with the Timberwolves with a player option for the final year.
“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.”
Reid had a $15 million player option for 2025-26 that he has declined in order to sign this long-term deal. Charania reports that there was interest around the league for the 25-year-old’s services, with even a starting role potentially on offer.
Despite having the opportunity to finally be a full-time starter in the NBA, Reid is staying put as a reserve in Minnesota, and that is massive for the Timberwolves. He averaged 14.2 points, 6.0 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 0.7 steals, and 0.9 blocks per game in 2024-25.
Reid, the 2024 Sixth Man of the Year, played a key role in the Timberwolves getting to the Western Conference Finals for the second year in a row. He delivers a great scoring punch off their bench and, crucially, provides spacing as well, having shot 39.5% from beyond the arc in the last two seasons.
The Timberwolves need a shooter next to Rudy Gobert and Julius Randle in that frontcourt, and Reid is the perfect complement to them. It will be interesting to see what happens with Randle now, though.
NBA insider Brian Windhorst had stated the Timberwolves would not be able to retain Reid, Randle, and Nickeil Alexander-Walker. Windhorst reckoned one of them would be gone, and time will tell if Randle or Alexander-Walker heads to the exit door.
While either of them leaving would be a blow to Timberwolves fans, they can at least rejoice in the fact that Reid is staying. He signed with the team as an unrestricted free agent back in 2019 and has become a fan favorite in Minnesota.
