Minnesota Timberwolves and Nas Red center have agreed to a three-year, $42 million contract with a player option, his agent Sean Kennedy of Excel Sports has confirmed to the athlete Sunday. ESPN first reported the news. Here’s what you need to know:
- Reed, 23, signed with the Timberwolves in 2019 as an undrafted free agent out of LSU.
- He averaged 11.5 points on 53.7 percent shooting in 68 contests (11 starts) last season, and grabbed 4.9 rebounds per game.
- Reed fractured his left wrist in a game on March 29 and underwent surgery, missing the remainder of the season.
Huge move for Wolves getting Naz Reid (ex @tweet reported for the first time).
As reported here last week: The Wolves wanted it and Naz Red wanted it. It’s over.
– Jon Krawczynski June 25, 2023
why now?
The timing of this deal is important for Wolves. Getting a deal now means he doesn’t have to worry about Reed hitting free agency this weekend and an opposing team throwing a big number at him or orchestrating the deal in such a way as to make it difficult for the salary cap—the Wolves strained to keep him.
Reed is a very valuable piece for Minnesota. He has one of the best handles for a big guy in the league and has worked incredibly hard to go from undrafted free agent to coveted hunk. One of the best player development stories in the franchise. The wolves didn’t want to let that get away.
The timing also shows how badly Reed wanted to stay in Minnesota. Despite playing in a team with great players such as Carl Anthony Towns and Rudy Gobert ahead of him, Reed still preferred to stay with the team he spent four seasons playing in. He has many close friends on the team and trusts the coaching staff to find him a role even in the crowded frontcourt.
To make this decision just days away from hitting the open market shows just how important it is for Reid to be Timberwolf. – Krawczynski
What’s next for Minnesota?
There is no doubt that a deal of this magnitude will raise questions about the shape of the list in the future. Towns and Gobert are both in the extreme bargains. Reid now achieves an average annual worth of $14 million per season. That’s a lot of money to commit to centers in the age of speed and space.
Minnesota will have a hard time keeping all three long-term, especially with a stricter collective bargaining agreement starting in 2024-25. The Wolves have one more year to assess the roster before they essentially have to make a move. But the clock is starting to tick. – Krawczynski
the background
The 6-foot-9 Reed has career averages of 10.1 points and 4.4 rebounds per game. It’s a 50.5 percent shooter, including 34.4 percent from the 3-point range.
required reading
(Photo: Nick Wosika/USA Today)